American violinist and viola player David Wish received his Bachelor’s Degree in violin and composition from the Eastman School of Music and his Master’s Degree with Stanley Ritchie in baroque violin from Indiana University. In 2005, he moved to Europe to study at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and then settled in France where he studied with Patrick Bismuth at the CNR de Paris.
He has a varied musical background. As a student, he specialized in contemporary music, playing for and studying with such prominent composers as Steve Reich, John Adams, and George Crumb. He also performed in old-time, free-improv, electronic, and medieval ensembles before turning to baroque music.
David freelances widely in Europe on violin and viola, most recently with such ensembles as Pygmalion, B’Rock, Correspondences, Les Musiciens de St. Julien, Les Ambassadeurs, Capriccio Stravagante, Holland Baroque, and Ensemble Caravanserail.
During his stay at the Banff Centre in Canada in 2003, studying contemporary violin and piano repertoire, David took his first steps into the realm of the viola. He discovered the viola’s valuable role in the string quartet as a baroque violinist in residence.