Meet Program Coordinator David Wall
David Wall first found his way to Classical KING when he started as a volunteer in 2014 after playing in the Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra with then-Assistant Program Director
Maggie Stapleton. Shortly after his introduction to the station, David took the role of Event Manager and eventually found his way to his current role as Program Coordinator.
Before his time with KING, David received a music degree from the University of Washington, where he studied bassoon with Seth Krimsky, principal of Seattle Symphony. David is a proud advocate for what KING FM is and can be: “I see the station as a platform for discovering new music, either newly composed or just new to me. I also see the station as a platform for elevating classical music on all levels throughout Seattle.” When he’s not cheering us on, David spends his time on photography, citing urban hikes throughout the city as a source of inspiration. As a self-professed science fiction and fantasy nerd, he counteracts his indoor time with tennis and hiking.
KING: Let’s say you have a free day to spend somewhere beautiful. Are you heading to the beach or the mountains? In the Pacific Northwest, of course, we have easy access to both.
David: As someone who grew up going on family camping trips to magical places such as Yosemite, the Redwoods, and Joshua tree, I love hiking – however, I am inexorably drawn towards the vastness and magnificent (albeit terrifying) power of the ocean.
KING: Favorite type of food?
David: That’s real tough. As a native of Southern California, I love authentic Mexican food, but I think Thai food takes first place in my heart (and stomach).
KING: It’s game night! Are you hoping for a board/tabletop game, a video game, or a sporting event?
David: If the weather is nice, get me out on the tennis court, but if it’s raining and company permits, I get real competitive over the Scrabble board.
KING: Beatles or Rolling Stones? (Or Bach or Beethoven?)
David: Queen all the way.
KING: What music might people be surprised to learn you listen to — when you’re not listening to KING, that is?
David: My diverse musical experience has led me to appreciate some artists I never expected, such as Swedish punk/hardcore group Refused, SoCal rock band Rx Bandits, Oingo Boingo or legendary jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman. I sometimes go down a rabbit-hole of folk music like groups such as Triakel (a Swedish folk band), or more popular artists, like Childish Gambino and, much to my surprise, Taylor Swift. Great music exists in all corners if you allow yourself to be open to it, and it is a favorite pastime of mine to explore musical genres of all kinds.
KING: What classical composers, living or dead, haven’t gotten their fair dose of attention — which composers aren’t “household names” but should be?
David: Lili Boulanger comes to mind, as does Caroline Shaw, Henryk Górecki and Arvo Pärt.
KING: If your classical music collection was entirely vinyl records, which of those records would be nearly worn-out from being played dozens of times? In other words,what music do you come back to, over and over again?
David: My vinyl copy of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde recorded by the Chicago Symphony with Fritz Reiner conducting is actually fairly worn down. Other pieces I have on repeat are Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin, Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1, Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony, and the Danish String Quartet’s two albums of folk music Wood Works and Last Leaf, to name a few.
KING: What pieces of music do you turn to when you need comfort, solace, or relaxation?
David: Ravel’s Le Tombeau tops the list along with those two Danish String Quartet albums mentioned above.
KING: Let’s say you’re hosting a musical dinner party or cocktail party, and you can invite three composers or performers, living or dead. Whom do you invite?
David: Freddie Mercury, Stephen Sondheim, and Mozart.
