Dr. David L. Esleck is a performer, composer, producer, and educator. Although experienced as a multi-instrumentalist, he focuses on the piano, both as a soloist and with the David Esleck Trio. He is heard in concerts and recitals around the country, including performances for and with presidents, heads of state, CEO’s, Hollywood stars, and musical figures like The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Tony Bennett. Esleck’s newest release, Little Ears, on Yesyes Records, was listed on the ballot for the 2016 GRAMMY awards, and is available on Amazon.com, Pandora, and Spotify.
Esleck’s compositions, both jazz and classical, are heard in concerts, films, and television. A trained composer, he holds Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in the discipline from Tennessee Technological University, The University of Virginia, and The Catholic University of America, where his teachers have included Robert Jager, Aaron Copland, Walter Ross, Judith Shatin, and Helmut Bräunlich. Jazz bands, children’s choirs, orchestras and soloists have performed Esleck’s music, which has also been heard in films and television programs.
The variety of styles and genres present in Esleck’s compositions is also reflected in the diversity of artists with whom he has done production work. He has served as record producer for a wide variety of clients, working with 21st-century composers, classical performers, Nashville singers, and rock and roll artists.
Esleck’s dedication to the art of music is equaled by his commitment to music education. He is on the faculty at the University of Richmond, where he teaches jazz performance, jazz history, and jazz piano, in addition to courses in the more traditional fields of music history, theory, and piano performance. Before coming to UR, he was head of the jazz/commercial music degree program at Virginia Union University. Esleck has also taught at the University of Virginia, Longwood University, and Randolph-Macon University. In addition to the great rewards of educating University students, Esleck still finds time to work with students of all ages, from young children to seniors. He has an active studio of private students, and recent graduates are playing and singing at the Berklee School of Music, Belmont University, Indiana University, The University of Miami, and on stages and studios around the world.