David Cole Artist's Diploma

Associate Professor–cello

David Cole

Professional profile

David Cole is an artist who lets truth be his guide, who looks within for knowledge, and who is inspired by the mysterious beauty of the Universe. Dedicated to the intentions of the composer while realizing the delicate balance between emotion and form, Cole creates an extraordinary concert experience.

He has been soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the National Symphony in Washington, the symphony of Nice, France, the Solisti L'Aquilani at Carnegie Hall, and has had more than 75 solo performances with the Abruzzo Symphany in Italy. He was awarded a Martha Baird Rockefeller grant after performing at Carnegie Hall and recorded trios with famed pianist Rudolf Serkin and violinist Pina Carmirelli. David performed for Pablo Casals on the Bell Telephone Hour as part of a documentary on the Marlboro Festival.

David Cole and violinist wife Carol Cole spent many years in Europe where they toured extensively, appearing as soloists and as members of chamber groups and symphony orchestras. Cole is a fourth generation musician. His great grandfather and grandfather were violinists, and his father, Orlando, is famed cellist of the Curtis String Quartet and teacher at the Curtis Institute.

Cole's musical experience includes playing as a member of many orchestras including La Scala in Milan, the Turin Radio Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony, and as principle cellist, with the New Jersey Symphony, the Florida Philharmonic, the Abruzzo Symphony, the Bethlehem Bach Festival Orchestra, the Solisti L'Aquilani, the Wilmington Symphony, the Florida Grand Opera and Pennsylvania Ballet orchestra.

Cole's love for classical music, and his belief in its power as a living art form, has inspired him not only to strive for the highest standards in cello playing, but to devote himself to passing on the knowledge handed down to him by great artists of the past. As a teacher, Cole began as a teenager at the New School of Music in Philadelphia, continuing at the Istituzione Sinfonica D'Abruzzo, Italy. Over the past decade he has been teaching at the New World School of the Arts in Miami and the Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach and at Indiana University's summer music festival. Presently, Cole is professor of cello and head of chamber music at the conservatory of music at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.

Cole began cello study at four years old with Metta Watts, continuing with his father, Leonard Rose and Zara Nelsova until graduating from the Curtis Institute in 1967. He participated in the Pablo Casals master classes during two summers at Marlboro and performed and recorded with the orchestra conducted by Casals. He also participated in a Jeuness Musical in Yugoslavia and in the Aspen and Tanglewood music festivals.

Education

  • Artist's Diploma, Curtis Institute of Music

Teaching philosophy

I believe, as it has been said, that love, work and knowledge are the wellsprings of our life and should govern it. As a teacher, I offer my knowledge and guidance in the hope that my students will have a rich and fruitful life. As an artist, I offer my art in the hope that it will sooth our spirit and inspire more art. When music speaks of love, perhaps it is the voice of the universe. Life' mysteries enchant us to work harder and inspire us to love more, with the promise of knowledge and the hope that what we do has some lasting value.