David Harding, Viola

David Harding has an extensive solo and chamber music career, having performed throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, Central America and Australia, in such venues as the Berlin Philharmonie, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Noted for his “eloquent viola playing” (The Scotsman), David has performed at music festivals around the world, including Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Seattle Chamber Music Society, and most recently, the Edinburgh International Festival and Philip Glass’ “Days and Nights Festival” in Big Sur, California. His live performances have been broadcast on CBC Radio (Canada), BBC (UK), NPR (USA), ABC (Australia) and Deutschland Radio. With flute, viola, harp ensemble, Trio Verlaine, David has recorded two CDs, “ Fin de Siècle, the music of Debussy and Ravel” and “Six Departures” featuring works by Bax and Jolivet alongside new commissions by R. Murray Schafer and Jeffery Cotton. 

A devoted teacher, he is currently Professor of Viola and Chamber Music at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. A graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, David was the winner of the Sir John Barbirolli award at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition. He performs on violas made by Nicolas Gilles, Montpellier, France and Pietro Antonio della Costa, Treviso, Italy.