Artist Biography
David Niwa, Violin
Violinist David Niwa's extensive performing career has included feature appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of the Curtis Institute, the Oak Park Symphony, the Chicago Youth Symphony, as well as recitals in the Corcoran Gallery, the Terrace Theatre of the Kennedy Center, the Cloitre des Jacobinsk, and Landgraf. Since 1990, he has been featured regularly as soloist with the New York Symphonic Ensemble throughout Japan and Southeast Asia. He appeared annually with the Chamber Orchestra of the Palisades and Plainfield, New Jersey Symphony, where he also served as concertmaster.
An active chamber musician, his engagements include concerts with The Lighthouse Chamber Players , the Roycroft Chamber Players, and the Niwa Duo (formed with his sister, Gail) and appearances as guest artist at Summer Chamber Music at the University of Rhode Island. Previously he has performed in Reno, Miami, New York City, Martha's Vineyard, and Nice. In 1987 and 1988 he was the invited guest artist-in-residence at the festival de la Gesse in southwestern France.
A native Chicagoan, Mr. Niwa began his studies at the age of five. While under the tutelage of his father, Raymond Niwa, he was awarded top prizes in all five divisions of the prestigious Society of American Musicians Competition. He was a three-time winner of the ISMTA competition, a winner of the St. Paul Musical Arts Competition, and was awarded scholarships by the Union League Civic and Arts Foundation. In 1982 Mr. Niwa was a prizewinner in the NFAA Recognition and Talent Search, and a finalist in the Seventeen - General Motors National Concerto Competition. In 1985 he made his live national TV debut with Tchaikovsky Concerto on NBC. Mr. Niwa currently serves as assistant concertmaster of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Niwa holds degrees from the Curtis Institute and the Juilliard School where his teachers were Aaron Rosand and Szymon Goldberg, respectively. His other mentors include Nathan Milstein, Henryk Szeryng, Lorand Fenyves, Robert Mann, Samuel Rhodes and Felix Galimir.
He enjoys cooking and eating and is an avid tennis player.