David Kornfeld

David Kornfeld composes “engaging and original” (Chicago Theatre Beat) music that is lyrical, accessible, and above all emotionally moving, with an underlying structure driven by a narrative. Numbers Nerds marks his sixth musical composed with writing partners Laura Stratford and Alex Higgin-Houser, after Liberal Arts: the Musical!, Grind, Spa Fire: the Children of the One Percent, Pr0ne, a Hardcore, Amateur Musical, and Workingmen, to Arms!

Currently based in Chicago, David’s music directing, composing and arranging collaborations range from large theatres to sketch comedy groups, and everything in between, including Loyola University Chicago, Playhouse on the Square (Memphis, TN), Open Door Repertory Theatre, Theatre-Hikes, Hey Ladies, Ex-Pats Theatre Company, Whiskey Wry Productions, Summer Place Theatre, The Cabaret Project, Li’l Buds Theatre Company, and Underscore Theatre, of which he is a founding ensemble member, board member, and Resident Music Director. He is a licensed street performer and can occasionally be seen busking on keytar in downtown Chicago, and playing late night jazz gigs with his organ quartet, Jazzsquatch.

David is the recipient of such awards as the Sigrid and Erling Larsen Award in Creative and Performing Arts, finalist in the 2011 ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Awards competition and a Kennedy Center commendation for Achievement in Music Composition in the 2012 American College Theatre Festival. Apart from music, David loves the outdoors, cookery, and sustainable design.