The violinist David Kessler was born in 2000 and received his first violin lessons from Alexandra Rappitsch. Following advanced studies with Rudolf Rampf at the University of Music in Trossingen, since 2019 he has been continuing his artistic training at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Josef Hell and Lieke te Winkel.
He has received several international awards both as a soloist and as a chamber musician, including at prima la musica and at Jugend musiziert Schweiz. He has also received the special prize of ESTA Austria and the Bärenreiter Prize. In 2017 he won first prize in the Luigi Nono International Chamber Music Competition in Turin, as the youngest participant.
He gained valuable orchestral experience with the International Orchestra Institute Attergau (IOIA), the Summer Academy of the Vienna Philharmonic in Salzburg and as a member and concert master of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra. He has also served as a concert master in the Jeunesse OrchesterCamp Österreich, the Quarta Vier Länder Jugendphilharmonie and the Rotary Jugendsinfonieorchester Deutschland.
From 2022 to 2024 he was an academy member of the Vienna Philharmonic. Since September 2024 he has been principal second violin in the Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Philharmonic.
