First Impressions
An Interview with David Aaron Carpenter Early in the Mentorship
When you were first contacted by Rolex about the possibility of being a protégé, what was your reaction?
I was sitting at a computer cluster in Princeton University, finishing up a term paper. An email appeared in my in-box, and I vividly remember resisting opening it before I handed in my paper. When I opened it, a heading with Rolex appeared. I had heard about the Rolex Arts Initiative at the Verbier music festival, but I didn’t know what the process entailed. In the email, the Rolex Arts Initiative asked me to submit videos, CDs, and press materials about my work. It was a huge task — very similar to my college application to Princeton — but, in the end, it proved to be an instructive exercise, bringing back many musical memories spanning years of my work.
Later, when I learned that Mr Zukerman was the mentor for the Initiative’s music category, I became ecstatic: studying with him has been a lifelong goal.
When you were told you had been selected as the protégé, what were your first thoughts?
I still don’t believe it. Everyone associated with this process — from the other finalists, who, in my opinion, are two of the finest violinists of our generation, to the organisers — has contributed to making this one of the greatest experiences for me. For a violist to be given this opportunity is precedent-setting. I feel as though the mentorship will help enable me to pursue a dream of having a solo career.
What do you hope to learn during the mentoring year?
Mr Zukerman has a plethora of knowledge that will guide and develop my technical and musical skills. I hope this will allow me to achieve the next level of my playing.
Do you think there are any similarities between Mr Zukerman’s approach to music and your own?
What Mr Zukerman emphasises as a teacher has become essential to my understanding of music. With his discerning knowledge of bow-arm technique, I feel as if a new viola tone can be achieved. After seeing Mr Zukerman at his summer music festival, I was exposed to a new style of playing and approach to musical sensibility.
Being a protégé will mean that the mentorship will make certain demands on your time. How will this fit in with your studies at Princeton?
Fortunately, since my freshman year of high school, I have been almost impelled to learn how to balance both music and academics as a full-time student. Next year as a senior at Princeton, I hope to continue this balancing act. At this point in my career, I don’t yet have management or 100 to 120 concerts to play a year. The mentorship will be crucial in terms of learning and developing my repertoire. This is a good time to prepare for a career in the unforgiving, though supremely gratifying world of classical music. As an aspiring viola soloist in a sea of traditional solo instruments, you have to come out with a “bang”!
Pinchas Zukerman plays the viola. Does that make him particularly attractive and appropriate to you as a mentor?
I am so lucky to have the opportunity to study with a legend of the viola and violin. I couldn’t ask for a better mentor in terms of the musical and physical understanding he has of both instruments.