David Fedele

The flutist David Fedele is a seasoned, dazzling, impressive and accomplished performer who plays with fluency, feeling, grace and vigor, critics say. After presenting his New York recital debut at the 92nd Street "Y" as winner of the Young Concert Artists International Audition Award, he was described by the New York Times as "the most impressive debut artist, whose virtues begin with a firm tone that is especially beautiful, mechanical facility, and a feeling for the rise and fall of a phrase." He has won many honors including the Olga Koussevitsky Competition of the Musicians Club of New York, a grant from Arts International, a top prize in the Second Kobe International Flute Competition in Japan and first place in the New York Flute Club Competition.

Mr. Fedele has appeared as concerto soloist with the National Chamber Orchestra, the New York Symphonic Ensemble, The String Orchestra of the Rockies, the New Jersey, Charlotte, Knoxville, Green Bay and Cosmopolitan Symphony Orchestras, and in recital throughout the United States and abroad. Engagements have included performances at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Stanford University, Dartmouth College, the Krannert Center for Performing Arts, Philadelphia's Free Library and Academy Ballroom, and numerous other universities and concert series from Alaska to Florida.

An active international career has taken Mr. Fedele to Japan, where he made a critically acclaimed debut at Suntory Hall in Tokyo as part of a highly successful recital tour, and to France, South America, and Spain, where he was flute and piccolo soloist in the New York Chamber Soloists' presentation of Bach's complete Brandenburg Concerti and the Vivaldi Piccolo Concerto in C, and the Mozart Concerto in G. He was invited as guest artist at the Syrinx Flute Festival in Winnipeg and has performed recitals at the Rieti International Festival in Italy and the Festival de San Miguel de Allende in Mexico.

Mr. Fedele performs nationally with his trio, Trio Fedele, with Dan Velicer, piano, and Matthew Herren, cello. The group gave the world premiere performance at the National Flute Association Convention in Nashville, 2004, and subsequently the first recording of Lowell Liebermann’s Trio Number 2, Op. 87, commissioned for the group by The University of Kansas Center for Research and the Dave and Gunda Hiebert fund. The 2007 Fanfare Magazine review reads, “…(Trio Fedele) plays with a gracious manner that feels especially attuned to Liebermann’s more spectral and wandering moments (especially the opening Lento of the Flute Sonata). I can’t imagine it done better… This is truly an important album of some moment, and for me a mid-season Want List nomination” (Steven Ritter)

April 2006 marked the release of a CD by The University of Kansas Wind Ensemble, featuring Mr. Fedele as soloist in Michael Mower’s Concerto for Flute and Wind Band, on the Naxos label. He is featured on Koch International Classics' recording of Charles Wuorinen's New York Notes, a recording of the works of Oliver Knussen for Virgin Classics, Steve Reich’s Eight Lines and City Life for Nonesuch Records, the works of Zhou Long on Calla Records, the works of Chen Yi and with flutist, Tara O’Connor, the music of Robert Maggio and David Rakowski on CRI. Mr. Fedele can also be heard on Christmas with Paul Plishka on Naxos Records and the Grammy-nominated Joining Hearts and Voices, with the Holy Trinity Bach Choir on Augsburg Fortress.
Mr. Fedele is the only flutist to perform the role of "the cowherd," an on-stage flute, alto flute, and piccolo part, in Bright Sheng's opera, The Silver River, which premiered at the Spoleto Festival USA 2000 to critical acclaim. This work was presented on an international tour during the 2000-01 season, and was featured at The Lincoln Center Festival in 2002 and again at the Power Center in Ann Arbor in 2007.

Mr. Fedele has performed as guest artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The New York New Music Ensemble, The Group for Contemporary Music, Ensemble 21, The Steve Reich Ensemble, The Manhattan Sinfonietta, Bang on a Can, The Bronx Arts Ensemble, and The New Music Consort. He has been a featured soloist at the Vermont Mozart Festival, the Elan International Music Festival, Grand Canyon Music Festival, Chattanooga Riverbend Festival, May Music Festival in Charlotte, and the Columbia Festival for the Arts in Maryland.

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Mr. Fedele is a graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School where he studied with Julius Baker. He has also studied with Jeffrey Khaner and contemporary flute specialist Robert Dick. Mr. Fedele has served on the faculty of Columbia University, Franklin and Marshall College and The Pennsylvania Academy of Music. Currently Mr. Fedele serves as Associate Professor of Flute at The University of Kansas.