David Rakowski is a composer who has written seven symphonies, ten concertos, 200 piano études and préludes, chamber music, vocal music, and music for children. He's been a Pulitzer finalist twice, and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
He is the recipient of the 2004-2005 Elise L. Stoeger Prize from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, as well as the Chevillion-Bonnand Composition Prize from the Concours International de Piano d'Orleans. He was also named the Walter W. Naumburg Professor of Composition at Brandeis University. He was recently a Maurice Abravanel Distinguished Visiting Composer at the University of Utah and was given a teaching award at Brandeis University.
Throughout his residencies at MacDowell, he has written the piano etudes "Luceole #35, on ascending 2nds and 3rds," and "Purple, #36, on a chord"; three (of five) movements of a horn concerto for Daniel Grabois, commissioned by Sequitor; "Dream Symphony" for premiere by the New England String Ensemble; his 72nd piano etude "Dorian Blue" (for Donald Berman); three movements of a piano concerto for Marilyn Nonken and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project; a large piece for wind ensemble commissioned by the Barlow Foundation; five wind ensembles that would premiere in 2008; and began and finished a substantial work for mixed sextet called "Zyg Zag" commissioned by the Cygnus Ensemble of New York.
During his 2025 residency, Rakowski wrote a solo piano piece, Penalty Box 2, and a duo for violin and cello. Penalty Box was premiered and recorded by Holly Roadfeldt, for whom both Penalty Box pieces were written. He recently had a birthday concert with three of his pieces and 12 pieces written by colleagues and former students.
