David Binder joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in September 2015, and since 2018 is a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra performing Principal and Second Trombone. David also performs with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, and in January and February 2023 acted as guest Principal Trombone of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He previously served as Co-Principal Trombone of the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki, Finland for three seasons. While in Finland he frequently substituted with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Tapiola Sinfonietta. As a soloist, David has performed recitals in Finland, Switzerland, and across the US; and has won solo competitions at the American Trombone Workshop, International Trombone Festival, and International Women’s Brass Conference.
A Chicago native, he completed his Bachelor’s of Music with Brass Department Honors at Northwestern University, studying with Michael Mulcahy, Peter Ellefson, Timothy Higgins, and Randall Hawes. While at Northwestern, he was also a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and studied additionally with Jay Friedman. During his time in Europe, David travelled extensively to study with prominent trombonists on the continent, including Ian Bousfield and Jamie Williams. During the coronavirus pandemic and while maintaining a full orchestra schedule in Detroit, David went back to school and earned a Master’s of Music at Michigan State University under the guidance of Ava Ordman, as well as studying jazz improvisation with Michael Dease.
David has quickly become sought after as a pedagogue. He has presented masterclasses across the midwest at Northwestern University, Indiana University, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, and Bowling Green State University. In Detroit he maintains a private studio and is heavily involved in the DSO Civic Youth Ensembles program, leading rehearsals and sectionals for low brass students.
David received a 2018 Kresge Artist Fellow and $25,000 fellowship grant, awarded by Kresge Arts in Detroit, a program of The Kresge Foundation. The Fellowship is awarded in recognition of a demonstrated track record of artistic achievement and high quality work, and the potential to reflect, enhance, or impact communities within metropolitan Detroit. During the Fellowship year, David extensively concertized in Detroit, presenting new and daring performances of contemporary works for solo trombone and chamber ensemble.
In 2020 David began Prestige Recording Services, a professional audio and video recording production company. David captures, edits, mixes, and masters multi-track recordings, directs multi-cam live-streams, and produces deliverable audio and video content.
