David Aaron Carpenter, born on April 5, 1986 in New York City, is an American violist. He began studying violin at age six under the Suzuki method and later transitioned to viola by age 12. Carpenter's early training included studies at Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music. Carpenter gained prominence in 2006 when he won the Walter W. Naumburg Viola Competition. He performed with leading musicians and orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra under Christoph Eschenbach and made his debuts at Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center. He received the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2010 and was named a protégé of Pinchas Zukerman through the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. In 2013, Carpenter released Dreamtime, followed by his debut solo album on Warner Classics in April 2016.
