About
David Aks’ career as a conductor, cellist, and teacher spans the United States, Europe, and South America. He has conducted orchestras, opera, and musical theater, performed as a Classical and Celtic cellist, and mentored generations of young artists. Beyond his extensive credentials, David is known for bringing warmth and humor to his high artistic standards.
"Music is the language that connects souls across time."
Willene Gunn, Director Emerita, San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Conductor
David's conducting career encompasses symphonic, operatic, and musical theater repertoire. His appointments have included Music Director of the Bloomingdale Chamber Orchestra in New York City and the WXCR Chamber Orchestra in St. Petersburg, Florida. As a guest conductor, he has appeared with orchestras including the American Youth Symphony, the Nashville Symphony, the La Jolla Symphony, and orchestras in Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali, Colombia.
Additionally, David served as Music Director of orchestras and operas at the University of South Florida and California State University-Northridge for more than 30 years. He has conducted more than 50 operas and musicals in professional and academic settings.
Cellist
Classical Mastery
The cello has been at the center of David Aks's musical life from childhood. His principal teachers included Leopold Teraspolsky at Indiana University and Richard Kapuscinski at Oberlin College. Professionally, David has played with leading orchestras and opera companies including the Minnesota Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the New York Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia, the Filarmónica de Bogotá, the Minnesota Opera, and the Los Angeles Opera.
A dedicated chamber musician, David has also performed extensively in chamber ensembles including the Bakken Ensemble in Minneapolis, Cuarto Colombiano in Bogotá, and the Seraphin Trio in New York City.
Celtic Cello
Since discovering Celtic music in 2014, David Aks has become an active participant in California's traditional music community.
He has studied with leading Celtic artists including cellists Natalie Haas and Mike Block, and fiddlers Alasdair Fraser, Hanneke Cassel, and Jeremy Kittel. His introduction to Celtic music began at the Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddle School, followed by Mike Block String Camp. He has performed with the Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles and, most recently, with the Irish band The Praties.
Through these experiences, David has explored the cello's expanding role in traditional music, from playing melody and harmony to rhythmic accompaniment and improvisation.
A significant chapter in this musical adventure has been his collaboration with fiddler Joyce Pan since 2016. Together they formed the duo Joyce & David, whose debut recording, New Roads, features original compositions along with their own contemporary arrangements of Scottish, Irish, Swedish, and Québécois tunes. Joyce & David are a familiar presence at concerts, sessions, and Scottish Highland Games throughout California and Utah, bringing audiences an engaging blend of virtuosity, lyrical expression, and irresistible toe-tapping rhythms.
Chamber Music Coaching
Coaching
A sought-after chamber music coach, David has worked with ensembles at the Santa Barbara Chamber Music Festival, the ASTA Chamber Music Workshop, the Grand Pacific Chamber Music Festival, and others. He also founded the String Quartet Workshops at California State University-Northridge and the University of South Florida.
"David‘s explanation and coaching of the difficult harmonies and ethereal style of Ravel enabled us to discover the true enjoyment in performing this beautiful piece."
Cathy Ritchie, violinist, Santa Barbara Chamber Music Workshop
Teacher
Teaching has been one of the defining passions of David Aks' career. Through decades of work with established artists, young professionals, and university students, he has gained a reputation for establishing high artistic standards with warmth and humor. He is Professor Emeritus at California State University-Northridge, where he served as Artistic Director of the CSUN Symphony and the CSUN Opera Theater. David has also served on the faculties of the College of St. Catherine and the University of South Florida.
An OperaWorksTM faculty member since the program's inception in 1987, David developed innovative courses such as Audio-Visualization and Expressive Conducting for Singers that teach singer-actors how to integrate musical, dramatic, and performance skills.
David's teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that musicians learn best when imagination, technique and enjoyment work hand in hand.
- I can't imagine a better musicianship teacher. He is also friggin' hilarious!"
- Dr. Aks was a great professor and really cared about us succeeding as musicians."
From student evaluations
Education
David studied at the Tanglewood Festival with some of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century, including Leonard Bernstein, Colin Davis, André Previn, and Gustav Meier. Also at Tanglewood, he served as Assistant Conductor to Seiji Ozawa for Tosca. Additional training included the Minnesota Opera Institute, the Conductors Guild Summer Institute, and studies with Italian conductor Franco Ferrara in Siena, Italy.
David attended Indiana University, and received a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance and a Master of Music in Conducting from Oberlin College.
Connecting Through Music
Get in touch to discuss concerts, teaching, chamber music coaching, speaking engagements, or collaborative projects.