Starobin, David

(b New York, 27 Sept 1951). American guitarist. He studied at the

Peabody Conservatory with Aaron Shearer, and made his New
York début at Carnegie Hall in 1978. Since then he has established
himself as a pioneer in contemporary guitar music, with over 100
new works dedicated to him. His major first performances include
Elliott Carter’s Changes (1983), Wuorinen’s setting of Psalm xxxix
for baritone and guitar (1979), Barbara Kolb’s Three Lullabies
(1980), Machover’s Concerto for amplified guitar and chamber
ensemble (1979), Kupferman’s Phantom Rhapsody (1980) and
Crumb’s Quest (1995). In 1984 he became a member of the
contemporary music group Speculum Musicae. He has taught at
Brooklyn College, CUNY, 1975–8, SUNY, Purchase, 1978–96, and
in 1993 was appointed professor of guitar at the Manhattan School
of Music. His recordings include works by Henze, Wuorinen, Kolb,
Bland, Del Tredici, Elliott Carter and Takemitsu, as well as early
19th-century repertory by Giuliani and Regondi.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
R. Augustine: ‘Re-Discovering the Nineteenth Century’, Guitar
Revue, no.81 (1990), 6–8
S. Cmiel: ‘Hidden Treasures: David Starobin’s Passionate
Exploration of 19th- and 20th-Century Music for Classical
Guitar’, Acoustic Guitar, vi/10 (1995–6), 62–71
THOMAS F. HECK