David Leisner has an extraordinary multi-faceted career as an electrifying classical guitarist, a distinguished composer, and a master teacher. “Among the finest guitarists of all time”, according to American Record Guide, Leisner is a featured recording artist for the Azica label, with eight highly acclaimed solo recordings. Other recordings are on the Naxos, Telarc and Koch labels, with a concert DVD published by Mel Bay. David Leisner’s recent seasons have taken him around the US, as well as to Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, Canada and Mexico. Celebrated for expanding the guitar repertoire, he has premiered and commissioned works by many important composers, including David Del Tredici, Virgil Thomson, Ned Rorem, Philip Glass, Richard Rodney Bennett, Peter Sculthorpe and Osvaldo Golijov, while spearheading the revival of neglected 19th century composers.
Mr. Leisner is also a highly regarded composer noted for the emotional and dramatic power of his music. His music has been performed, recorded and published worldwide. Recent works and commissions include Love Dreams of the Exile for the Cavatina Duo and string quartet, Das Wunderbare Wesen for baritone Wolfgang Holzmair and solo cello, A Timeless Procession for Holzmair and string quartet, Vision of Orpheus for the St. Lawrence Quartet and Leisner, Embrace of Peace for the Fairfield Orchestra, and Battlefield Requiem for cellist Laurence Lesser and the New England Conservatory Percussion Ensemble. Mr. Leisner is currently professor and co-chairman of the guitar department at the Manhattan School of Music.
David loves observing and collecting contemporary art, and loves even more sharing downtime with Ralph, his husband of 34 years, and their dog, Ringo.
