David Halen

Biography

David Halen joined the Saint Louis Symphony in 1991 and was named concertmaster in September 1995, serving under music directors Leonard Slatkin, the late Hans Vonk, David Robertson and Stephane Deneve. In 2021 he gave the premier performance with Leonard Slatkin of the William Bolcom Violin Concerto in Saint Louis, and in addition has soloed with the orchestra in much of the significant violin repertoire on subscription concerts for over thirty-five years. He has also soloed and recorded with the Houston, San Francisco and West German Radio (Cologne) symphonies. He has led the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra in their recordings after 1990, which have received numerous Grammy Awards and nominations. Previously, David Halen was also assistant concertmaster with the Houston Symphony Orchestra under Sergiu Comissiona and Christopher Eschenbach.

Born in Bellevue, Ohio, Halen grew up in Warrensburg, studying with his mother and father. Walter Halen was also his violin professor at Central Missouri State University, where Halen earned his bachelor’s degree at the age of 18. In that same year, he was granted a Fulbright scholarship for study with Wolfgang Marschner at the Freiburg Hochschule für Musik in Germany, the youngest recipient ever to have been honored with this prestigious award. He also has studied with Sergiu Luca.

David Halen is currently a Professor of Violin and Chair of Strings at the University of Michigan. During the summer, Halen teaches and performs extensively, serving as concertmaster at the Aspen Music Festival and School as well as the Sounding Point Academy at the Colburn School. He has also soloed, taught and served as concertmaster extensively at the Orford Arts Centre in Quebec, the Pacific Music Festival (Sapporo, Japan) the Manhattan School of Music, Yale University, the National Orchestra Institute at the University of Maryland, the Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, and the New World Symphony. His numerous accolades include the 2002 St. Louis Arts and Entertainment Award for Excellence, and honorary doctorates from Central Missouri State University and the University of Missouri-Saint Louis.

NOTE: Due to recent shoulder surgery, Mr. Halen will not be available for private lessons or masterclasses until further notice. Please check back in the late Fall.