David Francis pianist and composer

David Francis was born in Memphis, Tennessee and currently resides in Los Angeles. He is best known for his continual and steadfast championing and performance of 20th century classical music. He appears frequently in recital and has earned praise as an “expert pianist” from Pulitzer prize winning composer Ned Rorem.

David has also composed music for television shows such as The Young and the Restless and an animated children's series Extreme Dinosaurs. His current projects include composing the score for a new musical "In The Flesh - Undressing for Succes$" based on the life of poet Gavin Dillard, and co-composing the main title theme for a WWII television documentary. David also composed the score for a film documentary "The Age of Elegance."

David has appeared with orchestra in Pasadena, CA performing Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2. He also performed the same work with orchestra as part of the Lindenwood Concert Series in Memphis and again with a totally digital orchestra on a digital grand piano for Roland Instruments. His Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninoff in recital is spectacular.

David's latest CD is THE AMERICANS. The World Premiere Recording of The Americans with pianist David Troy Francis has now been released. This is the first recording of Pulitzer Prize winning composer Ned Rorem's teachnically daunting Eight Etudes for Piano. The CD also includes works by Lowell Liebermann, Tobias Picker and Michael Boustead.

Critic John Henken of the Los Angeles Times raves: "consistently absorbing, whether in lyrical repose or propulsive fury". Speaking of Gorgoyles by Liebermann, Henken continues: "Francis possessed the control for the delicate song of the Adagio, the wit for the teasing Allegro and the athleticism for the framing Prestos". Other works on the CD are Prelude No. 1 by Michael Boustead (Henken: "think Chopin at le Club Hot") and Old and Lost Rivers by Tobias Picker ("austerely poignant"). This CD is all American music by living American composers and the works represented are some of the best examples of contemporary classical piano. The recording engineer was Shawn Murphy (known for his exclusive engineering of John Williams and many other artists' recordings). The mastering was done by the incredible Pat Sullivan at Grundman Mastering. The CD was produced by the talented Michael John Boustead.

The selections on the CD series, "Pieces of my Childhood", reflect his upbringing in the Baptist church and explore his nostalgic yet bittersweet memories of these particular hymns. The stunning arrangements capture his adult musical perspective and bring a fresh and revealing emotional depth to these musical works. His sense of musical beauty, momentum, rhythm, emphasis, and drama will capture you. David Francis dedicates this album to his mother Marguerite Katherine Francis.