Zinman, David (Joel)
Zinman, David (Joel)
Zinman, David (Joel), talented American conductor; b. N.Y., July 9, 1936. He studied violin at the Oberlin (Ohio) Coll. Cons, of Music (B.M., 1958), and composition at the Univ. of Minn. (M.A., 1963). He took lessons in conducting at the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood, and with Monteux at his summer school in Maine; from 1961 to 1964 he was Monteux’s assistant. After a successful engagement as guest conductor with the Nederlands Kamerorkest, he served as its conductor from 1965 to 1977. In 1972 he was appointed music adviser to the Rochester (N.Y.) Phil.; then was its music director (1974-85); also served as chief conductor of the Rotterdam Phil. (1979-82). He was principal guest conductor (1983-85) and then music director (from 1985) of the Baltimore Sym. Orch. While retaining his latter post, he also served as artistic director of the Minn. Orch/s Viennese Sommerfest (1994-96) and as music director of the Zürich Tonhalle Orch. (from 1995). He appeared as a guest conductor with various orchs. in North America and Europe, becoming well known for his performances of the Classical and Romantic repertory.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire