David Zinman is one of the leading American conductors, well known for his broad repertoire with large emphasis on recent music both in North America and Europe.
His instrument was the violin, which he studied at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Ohio in 1958. He took a Masters in composition at the University of Minnesota in 1963. During the same period he attended the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood. French conductor Pierre Monteux noticed him, leading to Zinman's enrolling in Monteux's conducting school in Maine. From 1961 to 1963 Zinman served as Monteux's ass...