MUSICIANS

David Fein has been Principal Percussionist of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra since 1979 and an adjunct percussion faculty member of New Jersey City University since 2009. In 1978, Fein became the first percussionist to receive the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Juilliard School. He served as a percussion instructor at The Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division for 31 years; he was appointed to the position at age 19 in 1973 by mentors Saul Goodman and Elden C. Bailey. Many of his former Juilliard Pre-College students perform with symphony orchestras both as percussionists and conductors. Fein’s first Juilliard instructor was Morris Goldenberg.

As a conductor, Fein has led performances of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Merrick Symphony, Juilliard Percussion Ensemble, Juilliard Dance Ensemble, Contemporary Dance System, Doctors Orchestral Society, New York Youth Symphony, New Jersey Ballet, Hartford Ballet and Northeastern Pennsylvania Youth Orchestra. He received conducting training at the National Orchestral Association with Leon Barzin and at Juilliard with John Nelson.