David Fay

David Fay joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1984 after graduating from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he was a student of Roger Scott, former principal bass of The Philadelphia Orchestra.  

An orchestral performer since 1975, Mr. Fay has performed with the Ottawa Youth Orchestra, the Ottawa Symphony, the World Youth Symphony (Interlochen), the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the Colorado Philharmonic, and the Curtis Symphony. At the age of 21 he joined the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada.

Mr. Fay is an active chamber music player. He performs throughout the Greater Philadelphia region with his wife, Pamela, violist of the Wister Quartet. Their performances include a series of educational concerts called “Sounds of the Strings.” 

Mr. Fay was born in England and emigrated to Ottawa, Canada, in 1968. Five years later he began studying the double bass as part of a high school music program. He began private study with David Currie, assistant principal bass of the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada. Further studies took place with teachers from the University of Michigan, the Eastman School of Music, and the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, Sweden. Mr. Fay won the top prize at the Ottawa Music festivals of 1975, 1977, and 1978, and he was awarded a scholarship to attend the National Music Camp at Interlochen.

Photo: Chris Lee