CSO hires principal timpanist

Wed Dec 12, 2012 at 2:44 pm

By Lawrence A. Johnson

David Herbert. Photo: Terry McCarthy/SF Symphony.

Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra have appointed David Herbert as the CSO’s principal timpani, effective July 10, 2013.

David Herbert is currently principal timpanist of the San Francisco Symphony, a post he has held since 1994. He served as a guest principal timpanist with the Berlin Konzerthausorchester from 2007-2009. Prior to his appointment in San Francisco, Herbert was the principal timpanist in the New World Symphony from 1992 to 1994.

Herbert has given numerous solo performances, appearing with the San Francisco Symphony as soloist four times over the course of his tenure, as well as with the St. Louis Symphony, Shanghai Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, and the New World Symphony. Last April Herbert was the soloist in the world premiere of Alex Orfaly’s Divertissement No. 2 with the New World in Miami Beach.

Herbert earned his bachelor of music degree in performance from St. Louis Conservatory and his master’s degree from the Juilliard School. He has spent his summers since 2009 serving as principal timpanist of the Aspen Festival Orchestra at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Prior to 2009 he was the international percussion instructor and soloist with the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan.

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2 Responses to “CSO hires principal timpanist”

  1. Posted Dec 21, 2012 at 9:37 pm by Dean Leff

    I hope he turns out to be as satisfying and exciting to listen to as Vadim Karpinos.

  2. Posted Dec 22, 2012 at 11:08 am by David L. Lubell MD

    Unless he doesn’t want the position, why not Vadim Karpinos? I do not recall Mr. Herbert playing in any major piece with the CSO at Orchestra Hall.

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