David and Pnina Louis
David was born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1949, a gifted musician from an early age. He studied composition at Northwestern University and has performed with Orchestras around the world. He has conducted his own works with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Berkeley Symphony, the Pasadena Chamber Orchestra. He has worked with Leonard Bernstein and Jan Pierce. During the roaring 60's he played with Rock groups and played in the warm-up band of Janis Joplin at Woodstock and with the Buddy Rich Orchestra. During that exciting time, he developed an interest in Jewish Mysticism and began to study Kabala and Chassidus. A self-taught painter from childhood from a long line of painters finds inspiration for paintings in his mystical studies. At the same time, he has continued his musical career and has put out three albums, among them one played by London Brass and the Israel Brass.
During the past two decades, David has been invited to lecture worldwide to audiences of various cultures and denominations, often volunteered as a cultural ambassador by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism.
Kabbalah and Performance
2010 - 2021; Lecturer on Kabbalah and Bible to tourists from all over the world, volunteered as a welcoming ambassador for the Israel Ministry of tourism.
1990 - current: Public classes and lectures on Kabbalah and Jewish Philosophy around the world to Jewish and gentile audiences
1985 - 2008 One man performances of music and storytelling for the Jewish Agency in Eastern Europe, South Africa, and the United States.
Music
1990 - 1996 Directed the music program at Experimental High School for Dropouts
1992 - 1993 Musical compositions played by the Israel Brass and London Brass.
1990 - 1995 Played trumpet and flute in Kleyzmer concerts in Sefad, Israel
1976 - 1978 Trumpet player in Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra.
1979-1989 Performances with trumpet, flute and harp around the world.
1974 Played Hikirichi in a Gagaku ensemble conducted by a member of the Japanese Imperial Court Orchestra.
1973 Conducted Chamber Music Concerts at the Pasadena Art Museum California.
1972 - 1973 Conducted the Westwood Chamber Orchestra, California.
1971 Conducted Chamber Orchestra for ABC Television Show of East Meets West
1964 - 1969 Soloed with Peoria Symphony Orchestra playing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto.
Art
2018 - Solo Exhibition, Miklat Gallery, Jerusalem
2018 - Solo Exhibition, Visitor Center Masada
2017 - Solo Exhibition, Visitor Center Masada
2017- Group Exhibition, AACI, Jerusalem
2017 - Solo Exhibition, Jarar Bachar Center, Jerusalem
2016 - Group Exhibition, Jerusalem Theatre, Israel
2016 - Solo Exhibition, Beit Hasid, Jerusalem
2015-2016 Features in magazine 44Degrees
2015 - Group exhibition, Begin Center, Jerusalem Israel
2014 - Solo art exhibition, Massada, Israel
2014 - Group exhibition, The Jerusalem Cinematheque - Israel Film Archive
2013 - Group exhibition, Jerusalem Biennale
2007 - 2012 Private art presentations in Israel, Brussels, New York, and Quebec.
1983 - Group exhibition at Beit Zioney America, Tel Aviv Israel
Memberships
A.S.C.A.P - American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
A.C.U.M - The Israel Society of Composers
Education
1979 - 1983 Ordained as Rabbi in Lakewood,N.J, in General Jewish Law and Torah Scribe.
1975 - 1977 Studied Torah in 770, Lubavitch Yeshiva , NY
1973 Studied Sitar with Ali Akbar Khan in San Rafael California.
1972 - 1973 Studied conducting at University of Wisconsin, M.A. Ethnomusicology
1967 - 1971 B.A. in trumpet and symphonic composition, Northwestern University.