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David Zipse, virtuoso pianist
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pianist
- Travels nationwide
- Contact for rates
- 1. A Thousand Years
- 2. Bridal March (by Jonathan Cain of Journey)
- 3. Memory (from Cats)
- 4. The Way You Look Tonight
- 5. Canon in D
- 6. Hornpipe (from Water Music)
- 7. As Time Goes By
- 8. Peanuts (Linus & Lucy)
- 9. Bohemian Rhapsody
- 10. Rhapsody in Blue (beginning) Want to hear the whole thing? Buy my CD! :)
Overview
"Thank you David for making our wedding ceremony everything we could have ever dreamed of!!! Your musical talent is amazing and we have received compliment after compliment about your performance. I couldn't be happier about how our wedding day turned out, and much of it was a direct result of the beautiful music during our ceremony. Thank you again for everything!!" -Amy H, Chesapeake City, MD
Words cannot describe how THRILLED we were with David from planning stages through performance! He was professional and courteous, his responses to emails were almost immediate and he was extremely accommodating to our requests. Above all, his performance was out of this world! -Katie W, New Hope, PA
46 Reviews
My father was a professional pianist. He played in high end restaurants - his specialty: the Great American Songbook. But he could play anything. He was classically trained. He played until age 92 - on his baby grand Steinway piano. I am a lawyer and last night was my year end holiday party. David was my party’s entertainment. He stood in for my Dad - even though he’s younger than me. And he was spectacular. I say this from the perspective of being my father’s son, as someone who has been around great musicians and music all of my life. David can play; he is amazingly good and talented and super pleasant and affable. Perfect. I highly recommend him for your next high end event. But I am sure he can play anywhere, anything, anyhow - as he is a true musician.
Pianist
There are no words to express our gratitude to David. The music and vibe he created for our event was nothing less than magical. It was evident he took the time to understand our daughter's personal taste in music and created a playlist that only enhanced the beauty of the day. Thank you very much David!
Pianist
David was AWESOME. Very skilled and was a perfect addition to our wedding!! Can’t thank him enough!
Pianist
David and his 3-person band were exceptional from start to finish. Their communication during planning was prompt and professional, making the logistics seamless for our end-of-year event. The performance itself was outstanding—they read the room perfectly and delivered exactly what we needed. The band's talent and professionalism made our event truly memorable. Highly recommend!
Pianist, Jazz Band
David provided the perfect wedding music for our venue. He played throughout the ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner. After dinner he picked up the vibe of the crowd and had the whole room singing. Everyone loved it!
Pianist
David was a wonderful pianist for an Art Show opening reception. Some guests even sang along!
Pianist
On 5-4-24, David played piano at my wedding ceremony and the first 30 minutes of my reception. I couldn't have asked for a better pianist. He was early, he was flexible, he sounded amazing. I will definitely book him the next time I need a pianist around.
And, upon request because some of our songs needed it, he also brought with him a cellist friend and she was also wonderful. Her name is Carolyn Hendrix.
We were so grateful to have had live music - It emphasized how very special the day was for my husband and I. Our guests were touched. Thank you so much, David!!!
Jazz Band, Jazz Pianist, Wedding Band, Pianist
David’s beautiful piano playing absolutely made my mother’s 80th birthday celebration a success. He was playing well before I arrived, and continued for the duration of the event with music selections that everyone loved. Exceeded my expectations!
Pianist
David is a very talented musician, and a lovely man. He was wonderful “reading the room” and gearing the choice of music, and the volume of the sound, towards the crowd. At the beginning of the evening, my guests (who were mostly older) were all commenting on how wonderful it was to have live music, and his playing was more “background music” (albeit wonderful). But by the end of the evening, a number of our guests were actually hanging out around the piano singing and dancing. It was perfect!
Pianist
David described his expertise and he delivered. He was very accommodating as we had guests who wanted to sing. Communication and prompt and easy. Would love to have David over again.
Pianist
My best friend’s wedding was made truly magical with David’s extraordinary help. His exquisite musical talent brought an atmosphere of elegance and unity in this special multicultural wedding. The piano soundtracks I requested to sing under were beautifully executed and perfectly tailored to my preferences, and where needed, David kindly readjusted them to fit my vocal range. I couldn't have asked for a more talented and professional pianist to make my best friend’s wedding unforgettable.
Classical Pianist
David was great! He worked with me to accommodate all my requests for the event. Very personable and easy to work with.
Classical Pianist, Jazz Pianist, Keyboard Player, Pianist
David did a fantastic job choosing and playing the music for our wedding ceremony with almost no direction on our part.
Keyboard Player
David was able to jump in and perform at my grandmother's funeral with just a few days' notice. His pianist skills are excellent, and he was able to provide a lovely prelude of traditional church/funeral music appropriate to the event. Arrived early to rehearse with soloist and was well-loved by the entire community who attended the service.
Funeral Music
Great experience, very professional, would hire him again
1920s Era Entertainment
David was awesome. He read the room, played to the crowd and had people singing along! I would hire again in a heartbeat.
Keyboard Player
David made our party truly memorable. All of our guests commented how great he was.
Pianist
David recently played our wedding on March 11th and rocked it!! We very much appreciated the atmosphere David created on our special day. I highly recommend David for your next big event.
Pianist
David was amazing at our holiday party. He plays beautifully and was so kind with the kids who wanted to watch and play with him. I hope to have him back at our next event!
Jazz Pianist
David arrived well before the event. He was professional and provided the music as I requested and it was seamless. I would recommend him to anyone wanting a talented, professional musician.
Keyboard Player
David was an absolute pleasure to have at our event. He had a huge selection of songs and was very welcoming to our guests. A seeet and kind man that will be back at many of our events in the future.
Pianist
David was everything we expected - his musical skills were top notch, he played songs that were very well adapted to the audience, he joined us early to familiarize himself with the place, we were extremely satisfied with how he enhanced our evening!
Pianist
David responded quickly to all communications, was early for the event, was able to play a variety of songs upon request, was pleasant and professional, and is highly skilled. The wedding rehearsal dinner was a classy and fun event largely because of David. Thank you David!
Keyboard Player, Pianist
David's music enhanced our art show opening. He is highly recommended!
Pianist
David was such a pleasure to work with. He is very talented and knew how to play every song requested from memory with showmanship and character. I highly recommend David for your next event!
Pianist
We were so glad we found David on Gig Salad! He played for our mothers 80th Birthday celebration and was fantastic! And as described, he is truly a virtuoso! David played songs from the 40’s, classics, Irish songs by request and we all wound up singing along! Everyone at the party was completely impressed and had a great time! We’ll be booking David in the future for sure!
1940s Era Entertainment, Jazz Pianist, Keyboard Player, Pianist
David was truly wonderful! We’ve wanted to have a pianist play our home piano for a family Christmas party for many years, and David was exactly what we had in mind. He is so incredibly talented and has a seemingly endless songbook! He took requests and was happy to indulge people even for non holiday songs (Elton John, Billy Joel, etc). He was very open to discussing Covid/safety protocols with us before hand which we really appreciated. We definitely plan to have him back!
Pianist
Dave provided smooth entertainment for over two hours and also took requests from our guests. I would ask him to come back for the future events. Thank you!
Pianist
David was a HIT at our Cocktail Party and Fundraiser this past Saturday! He came prepared with Halloween music to fit the theme and played nonstop, beautiful pieces from start to finish. Not to mention, he was extremely personable with the guests and wonderful to work with. I will definitely be booking him again when in need of a top-notch pianist.
David is wonderful to work with! Our guests loved him during our ceremony, he did a custom mashup for us and it was a hit- I got so many compliments!!
Pianist
David did an amazing job at our wedding ceremony! He was very easy to communicate with and answered all of our questions quickly. He was flexible when we had to postpone the wedding last year due to covid. I also wanted my friend to play the violin during the ceremony and David came early to practice with her. He even learned a few Taylor Swift songs for me. I would highly recommend David for any of your events. Thank You!!!
Pianist
David was punctual and prepared for our wedding. He arrived ready to play and easily adapted to our wedding timeline. We asked him last minute (the week before our wedding) but he extremely flexible with us and very good to work with and I would definitely recommend him.
Pianist
Dave showed up on time and the music was perfect for the occasion. Very personable and would recommend and use again.
Keyboard Player
I was so pleased with David, Talented and so easy to work with. hope to hire him again. He earns the virtuoso title! I hope to hire him again for another event!
Pianist
This gentlemen went above and beyond with his effort and service. I can stress how incredibly pleased we were!
Pianist
Lots of compliments and comments from first to our event where did we get the piano player he was excellent.
Pianist
David was Ah-Mzaing! He wrote the sheet music for: string trio, himself as pianist, and 3 separate vocalist for our wedding! Aside from his Ultimate Professionalism, he is the Nicest and most calm and hospitable person I have ever met! It was Our Honor to have him play at our wedding and anyone who Does Not Hire Him “ Johnny on the Spot” is a Fool!!
Composer, Wedding Band
David Zipse gave an outstanding piano performance at my holiday party yesterday afternoon. He not only played a great variety of holiday tunes and performed them all flawlessly but he took requests from the guests, one of which resulted in a nice sing-a-long version of Piano Man. I also appreciated that David took the time to learn a piano song from one of my favorite childhood holiday shows. I had made the request earlier on the same day as the party and was impressed that he took the time to learn the song and he played a great rendition of it during the event. I highly recommend David to play at your event!
Pianist
David was fabulous, he enjoys requests and did his best to play everything! He arrived plenty early and setup and was ready to play for our party. He is personable and played the whole time! I really wanted him to play on our outside deck which was the middle of our event as we had an outside tent as well as my living room. He accommodated my wishes even though it was chili. We plan on hiring David again for the wedding cocktail hour !
One other thing, his estimate did not break the bank as others, and I happily gave him a generous tip.
Keyboard Player, Pianist
David was an excellent pianist for our daughter's wedding ceremony. He was prompt, professional, courteous and has a rich repertoire of songs at his fingertips. He was able to play anything we asked for with ease. The rehearsal and wedding day were so smooth and easy there were no worries! We had a violinist and cellist that he coordinated with seamlessly even though they had not played together previously. I would highly recommend David. What a joy to work with!
Classical Pianist, Pianist
David was easy to work with and very accommodating. He was willing to learn new music and play with 2 other musicians (family members) at my daughter 's wedding. He even recorded himself playing the songs ahead of time and sent them to the other musicians so they could practice. He arrived early and was well prepared. He was very responsive to all of my emails- answering my questions almost instantaneously. He made the ceremony flow smoothly. I would highly recommend him!
Keyboard Player
My husband and I hired David to play for our wedding ceremony and reception on December 30. Besides being wonderful to work with, and very communicative, David is a phenomenal pianist. I knew I could trust his experience and was so happy with the music he chose. He arrived earlier than the wedding party to play as guests arrived, and I could hear the music from where I was way at the back of the venue -- I kept commenting to my family how wonderful it sounded. David, I didn't have a chance to thank you in person, but I wanted to share that I was so happy to hear you play 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' right before the processional. It's one of my favorites and made me feel so at ease. Thank you for being part of our day!
Classical Pianist
David was professional, on time and played beautifully!
Classical Pianist
David was terrific! Everyone loved him so much, they wanted him to sty and play on! I would highly recommend him, and will certainly use him in the future!
Pianist
David Zipse was absolutely amazing, and I can't recommend him enough! He made my wedding (ceremony, cocktail hour & dinner) so magical. Our guests raved about how much they loved the pianist and how splendidly he played! Every step of the way, David was so accommodating and professional; we made dozens of special requests for songs, including a very complex rendition of our favorite Steely Dan song for our recessional hymn, that David learned from a youTube video I sent him, and he totally nailed it- he is SO talented! We asked him to come a little earlier to rehearse with our wedding singer, and he came even earlier and stayed late. David is a class act; and we could not have hired a better pianist! Thank you so much for everything, David!
Classical Pianist, Jazz Pianist, Keyboard Player, One Man Band, Pianist
David came highly recommended, and he didn't disappoint. As we worked out the details for him to play out of town at my parents' 30th anniversary gathering, he was responsive and accommodating. He arrived early and came right in to play a difficult number that we had requested of him. After playing a bit of Gershwin, my parents coincidentally realized that they had attended a Gershwin performance that David had given some years ago, which they loved. He lived up to that high standard as he played throughout the afternoon, taking requests for everything from Broadway tunes to pop to classical. My family was amazed by how much David could play directly from memory, and the few numbers that he didn't know, he was able to pull up within moments on his tablet and play effortlessly. He even humored us by letting us sing along with a few requested numbers, which my parents also loved.
David was engaging but not overbearing in terms of his interaction style, and he is highly skilled. I strongly recommend him and believe that he would turn most any request into a successful performance. Hire David with confidence.
Classical Pianist, Jazz Pianist, Pianist
Booking Info
Price Range: Contact for rates
Gig Length: 30 - 600 minutes
Insurance: $1,000,000 - Commercial General Liability
What to Expect
Sure, read my reviews, listen to my demos, and see why so many have trusted me to provide entertainment for their weddings & events, but all that aside, I’d like to offer some
Sure, there's a reason why clients have trusted me with dozens of bookings, why I have dozens of glowing reviews and am a Top Performer every month, and if you choose to hire me, I'll do my best to EARN a review just as glowing as the rest!
Always aiming to please,
David
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Virtuoso? Well, that's what the critics say:
"The music's best asset is VIRTUOSO Zipse at the piano..." -Jeff Murphy, News-Journal.
"PIANIST EXTRAORDINAIRE!" -St. Martin This Week.
*WINNER* of the 2010 & 2011 "Bride's Choice Award" -Martha Stewart & WeddingWire.
**WINNER of GigMasters’ “Rising Star Award” for being their TOP KEYBOARDIST for 8 of the past 9 years ((phone number hidden)9, (phone number hidden)2)!**
***FULLY INSURED***
Hello, I am a pianist who plays festivals, concerts, conventions, casinos, theaters, restaurants and clubs, as well as weddings, parties and corporate events. Besides playing solo piano or doing a one-man-band (w/ NO canned sequences) I also have a rock duo, a jazz trio, and an excellent dance/party wedding band.
You see, I just simply LOVE to play! As I tell my students, it's easy to be good at something if you love it. That's why I've been a full-time musician since graduating summa cum laude from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music. This IS my day job, and I love it!
I also play in church, and perform free at various fundraisers and charities, for talent is a gift, and what I do with it is my gift back.
Now I would be honored to provide the music for your wedding ceremony, reception, cocktail party, dinner dance or corporate event. From classical music for a ceremony to jazz for cocktails, from soft romantic music for dinner to dance party music for a reception, whatever you prefer, I know I can provide the perfect mix to please all your guests. I have a vast repertoire of over 1000 songs FROM MEMORY, (including Rhapsody in Blue) and am able to play most all requests.
But instead of my words, read what others say:
I cannot speak more highly of David. I had booked him to play during the cocktail hour for my wedding reception. As soon as I booked him, he reached out to me with a professional e-mail to get more information on my event. He was very accommodating to my requests, and prompt with responding. For the event itself, David showed up early to set up and briefly met with me to formally introduce himself. When the event started all I could hear was beautiful piano music coming from the cocktail room. I asked friends what they thought of the music and they LOVED it. David was not only professional, but an amazing pianist. I highly recommend him. -Andrew F, Richboro, PA
David played at our recent trade show in Atlantic City. Over the course of our two-day, 10-hour event David remained highly energetic and pumped out the hits one after another. He has a great attitude and a vast collection of songs to tap into. I highly recommend him for any event. He is fun and professional. You can't go wrong. -Kristen M, Atlantic City, NJ
"Dave - You rock! Simply the best in the tri-state area! I always run into you when our band Remedy plays The Reef and just sit back and enjoy! You are just one fabulous keyboard player -- great form, technique, and a great ear. You are most certainly something for me to aspire towards!" -Pat Bush, Wilmington, DE
"David you are a most talented musician as well as an excellent orchestra conductor and music director. Your work on CAPA's High Society and Little Shop of Horrors was outstanding. I look forward to working with you in the future. Always, Alex " -Alex Handy, Easton, MD
"David played for my folks' 50th anniversary party last September at The Farmhouse in Avondale. I knew from previous experience that he would put on a good show with just the kind of music the "old folks" would like, as well as a few for us younger people, too. Not only did he exceed my expectations in that regard, but he brought the house down, to the point where other restaurant guests came wandering in to see where the great music was coming from. By the end of the evening we were all up dancing, and hearing Rhapsody in Blue was the icing on the cake. Wonderful!" -Carolyn Hendrix, Port Deposit, MD
"We had the distinct pleasure of producing "Nunsense" last year..David was the pianist. WOW! Standing ovation from the full houses every night after his pre-show gig. Used him again in Dec. for "Nuncrackers" at Milton Theatre. Also booked him for a major Lewes fundraiser. THEN I booked him for a private party at my home (can't get enough!). Excellent musician...great fun to work with..superb show!" -Sue & Charlie Meyer, Lewes, DE
"This is Cheryl Romano Banquet Coordinator from the Rehoboth Beach Country Club in Delaware, we are a members only country club. I have had the distinct pleasure in booking David individually for many years as a piano player for our members and they always look forward to hearing him play. We recently had his group here for our Saturday evening entertainment, and they really had our crowd on the dance floor! Comments and raves continue to come in! We are looking forward to their return later this year!" -Cheryl Romano, Rehoboth Beach, DE
"David brings much joy to our Assisted Living facility everytime he plays. He is an excellent pianist and a great guy. My residents absolutely love him!" -Annette Bahn, Rockland Place, Wilmington, DE
"During the Chautauqua Tent Show in Lewes this summer, David Zipse created a fabulous experience of George Gershwin's music for an audience of over 500 people. Due in large part to the amazing talent of Mr. Zipse, it was a record-breaking attendance for an event that has been going on for ten years. As an organizer for the event, I found it great to be working with such a music professional. It was a top-notch performance! -Andrea Anderson, Lewes, DE
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One last note to prospective clients,
If you choose to book me, I will do my best to EARN a review as glowing as those above.
So, how can I help YOU? Just let me know!
Sincerely,
David
About
David Zipse, "virtuoso" pianist
David is a master of the piano who plays many different styles of music. He studied classical music for years, fell in love with jazz at an early age, and grew up listening to rock and roll; so these are his influences. He loves to perform, and loves to play requests. He has a large and varied repetiore, and plays popular favorites that reach many different age groups. Just when you think you've got his style pegged, he plays something totally different. But no matter what he plays, he plays it with heart.
Raised in Wilmington, Delaware, he then went to Shenandoah Conservatory of Music where he graduated at the top of his class, earning a degree in Music Composition, summa cum laude. After college he travelled on the road with several different bands before settling around Atlantic City and playing in the casinos for 12 years. He moved back to Wilmington, and has been performing solo and with various singers in local restaurants and clubs, while continuing a career as Musical Director and Accompanist of musicals and shows.
David has been musical director for numerous productions, including Milton Theater's "Nuncrackers" (Dec 2007) and "Nunsense" (Nov 2006), C.A.P.A.'s "Little Shop of Horrors" (Setp 2007) and "High Society" (Oct 2006), Covered Bridge Theater's "Nunsense II" (June 2006), and "big, The Musical" (June 2002), Delaware Best of Broadway's "This Is Your Life, Judy Garland" (May 2007) and "Anything Cole" (Feb-Mar 2002), Delaware Children's Theater Adult Wing's "Jesus Christ Superstar" (April 2000, April 1997) and the University of the Arts' "Once On This Island" (Oct-Dec 1998). He was Assistant Director for Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theater's production of "Blood Brothers' (Apr-May 1997), and has accompanied OperaDelaware in their productions of "The Secret of NIMH" (March 2005), "The Hobbit" (March 2004), "The Enormous Egg" (March 2003), "From the Mixed up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" (March 2002), "A Cricket in Times Square" (March 2001), "Louis' Trumpet" (March 2000) and "Charlotte's Web" (March 1999).
(Hmmm ... I guess I need to add all the shows I've done in the past 10 years! So many ... I just love what I do!)
Major accomplishments include starring as George Gershwin in "Gershwin, By George!" at the Riverfront Arts Center in February/March 2003, where he was acclaimed a "virtuoso" pianist by News-Journal critic Jeff Murphy. ("The show's best asset is virtuoso Zipse at the piano, who performs - by memory - a rousing rendition of 'Rhapsody In Blue."" -Feb 12, 2003)
Other accomplishments include being the arranger and musical director (for the past umpteen years) of the Annual Gridiron Dinner, a hilarious show spoofing Delaware politics; and performing for Maryland's governor at the Governor's House in Annapolis, He also performs annually to great acclaim at the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival.
Currently David can be heard regularly at several area restaurants and clubs, backing up various artists including jazz vocalist Pam Miller and Sinatra vocalist Sean Reilly, as well as with the dance band "Goodfoot."
Set List
I know over 1000 songs from memory, and have another 50,000 on my iPad.
I tailor the 'set list' to each event.
What would you like to hear?