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 The 2005-06 season marked the debut of Mr. Balakrisnan’s four-year residency with Orchestra Nashville. During this time, he will compose works for Orchestra Nashville, two of which will feature the Turtle Island Quartet, an ensemble he founded and performs with. Also during his Orchestra Nashville residency, Mr. Balakrishnan will help design and participate in the premiere of a new music festival, and extensive community engagement activities spearheaded by Orchestra Nashville. He will also assist Orchestra Nashville in strengthening its cross-genre performance practices.
David Balakrishnan holds advanced degrees in music composition and violin from UCLA and Antioch University West. In 1985 he founded the Turtle Island Quartet and has composed numerous works for this cutting edge ensemble. His tenure with TIQ has included several recordings, including their 2006 Grammy-winning CD “4+Four”, as well as soundtracks for major motion pictures, TV and radio credits such as the Today Show and All Things Considered, feature articles in People and Newsweek magazines, and collaborations with famed artists such as the Manhattan Transfer, pianists Billy Taylor and Kenny Barron, the Ying Quartet and the Parsons Dance Company. He has received two Grammy nominations in the category of best instrumental arrangement, the first for his arrangement of Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night In Tunisia" from TIQ's first recording, and the second for his arrangement of “You’ve Changed,” from their CD, Danzón, featuring clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera. He has been awarded numerous composing grants, including a composer fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, commissions from the Reader's Digest/Lia Wallace, and Meet the Composer foundations.
Listen to excertps and read program notes on David's works for Orchestra Nashville:
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