David Zipse, "virtuoso" pianist
David is a master of the piano who plays many different styles of music. He studied classical music for years, fell in love with jazz at an early age, and grew up listening to rock and roll; so these are his influences. He loves to perform, and likes to play requests. He has a large and varied repetiore, and plays popular favorites that reach many different age groups. Just when you think you've got his style pegged, he plays something totally different. But no matter what he plays, he plays it with heart.
Raised in Wilmington, Delaware, he then went to Shenandoah Conservatory of Music where he earned a degree in Music Composition, summa cum laude. After college he travelled on the road with several different bands before settling around Atlantic City and playing in the casinos for 12 years. He moved back to Wilmington, and has been performing solo and with various singers in local restaurants and clubs, while continuing a career as Musical Director and Accompanist of musicals and shows.
David has been musical director for numerous productions, including Milton Theater's "Nuncrackers" (Dec 2007) and "Nunsense" (Nov 2006), C.A.P.A.'s "Little Shop of Horrors" (Setp 2007) and "High Society" (Oct 2006), Covered Bridge Theater's "Nunsense II" (June 2006), and "big, The Musical" (June 2002), Delaware Best of Broadway's "This Is Your Life, Judy Garland" (May 2007) and "Anything Cole" (Feb-Mar 2002), Delaware Children's Theater Adult Wing's "Jesus Christ Superstar" (April 2000, April 1997) and the University of the Arts' "Once On This Island" (Oct-Dec 1998). He was Assistant Director for Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theater's production of "Blood Brothers' (Apr-May 1997), and has accompanied OperaDelaware in their productions of "The Secret of NIMH" (March 2005), "The Hobbit" (March 2004), "The Enormous Egg" (March 2003), "From the Mixed up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" (March 2002), "A Cricket in Times Square" (March 2001), "Louis' Trumpet" (March 2000) and "Charlotte's Web" (March 1999).
Major accomplishments include starring as George Gershwin in "Gershwin, By George!" at the Riverfront Arts Center in February/March 2003, where he was acclaimed a "virtuoso" pianist by News-Journal critic Jeff Murphy. ("The show's best asset is virtuoso Zipse at the piano, who performs - by memory - a rousing rendition of 'Rhapsody In Blue."" -Feb 12, 2003)
Other accomplishments include being the arranger and musical director (for the past seven years) of the Annual Gridiron Dinner, a hilarious show spoofing Delaware politics; and performing for Maryland's governor at the Governor's House in Annapolis, He also performs annually to great acclaim at the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival.
Currently David can be heard regularly at several area restaurants and clubs, backing up various artists including jazz vocalist Stefanie Jaye, Sinatra-lookalike Sean Reilly, and singer/songwriter Joe Pettis, as well as with the dance band "Goodfoot."