David Earl (composer)

David Earl
David Earl in December 2022
Born1951 (age 72–73)
Stellenbosch, Cape Province, Union of South Africa
Occupation(s)Composer, pianist
Years active1966–present

David Earl (born 1951) is a South African composer and pianist. He was educated at Rondebosch Boys' High School. He made his professional debut at the age of sixteen when he broadcast Bach, Chopin and Chabrier on the SABC. In 1968, he performed Felix Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No 1 with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra. In 1971, he moved to London where he studied at Trinity College of Music. He studied under Jacob Kaletsky and Richard Arnell. After a live début broadcast recital on BBC Radio 3 in 1974,[1] his first recital at Wigmore Hall was reported as "stylish and powerful" by The Times.[2] In 1975, he was selected as one of the Young Musicians of the Year by the Greater London Arts Association.[3] He also won first prize in the 1976 SABC Piano Competition.[4][5] He was described by The Daily Telegraph as having "remarkable gifts of style, technical mastery and artistry". He made his début as a composer in the 1977 when he premiered his own Piano Suite No 1 Mosaics at Wigmore Hall. His concerto repertoire includes the Viennese classics, many from the nineteenth century, and amongst those from the 20th, the piano concertos of Arthur Bliss and John Joubert, both of which he studied with the composers. Conductors he has appeared with include Hugo Rignold, Maurice Handford, Piero Gamba and Christian Badea.

  1. ^ Radio Times.   27 March 1974.
  2. ^ The Times.   7 March 1974.
  3. ^ The Daily Telegraph.   14 February 1975.
  4. ^ "SABC Prize won by City pianist". Cape Times. 28 August 1976.
  5. ^ "Earl is a pianist of distinction". Sunday Express (South Africa). 22 September 1976.