David Atkinson

Bio | Resume

Bio

David Atkinson is an award-winning pianist, composer, music director, and keyboard programmer, and is currently based in Toronto, Canada. In 2022-2023, he was the music director and conductor for the “And Peggy” touring company of Hamilton: An American Musical, which closed out its tour with a 6-month sit-down at the Princess Of Wales theatre in Toronto, after touring the Western US. Other recent roles include music director for Jake Epstein’s Boy Falls From The Sky (Mirvish / Past Future Productions; nominated for outstanding music direction at 2022 Dora Awards); associate music director for the pre-Broadway Toronto production of & Juliet (Mirvish); keyboard programmer for Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (Musical Stage/Crow’s).

David has also been a rehearsal pianist at the Stratford Festival, as well as a rehearsal pianist for the Netflix film production of Jason Robert Brown’s “13 The Musical”; a keyboard programmer and sound designer at the Shaw Festival; and in 2019 the associate music director for the Toronto production of Dear Evan Hansen. Other selected musical theatre credits include: London Road (CanStage), West Side Story (National Arts Centre/DanCap), Jersey Boys (DanCap), Kinky Boots (Mirvish), Wicked (Mirvish), Over The Rainbow (CBC Television; asst music director).

As music director with the silent film-inspired Keystone Theatre, David co-created three new works, including The Belle Of Winnipeg for which he proudly received the 2010 Dora Award for Sound Design & Composition; as well as The Last Man On Earth, which won several awards during its 2012 cross-Canada Fringe Festival tour.

At the piano, David has had the privilege of performing with Shirley Jones, Jason Robert Brown, Rufus Wainwright, Elton John, Josh Groban, Boy George, Brent Carver, Robert Pilon, and David Byrne. David has also been the keyboardist for several Canadian acts including Aline Morales, Jaron Freeman-Fox, Levon Ichkhanian, and The Elastocitizens.

As an educator, David is currently a member of faculty at Sheridan College’s Honours Bachelor in Music Theatre Performance program. He has previously been a member of faculty at the Randolph College for Performing Arts, where he taught 2014-2022, as well as at The Bishop Strachan School where he taught 2011-2019, music directing six co-productions with Upper Canada College.

In 2016, David produced and performed on the Os Tropies album The Soil, a psychedelic pop/rock exploration inspired by Brazil’s Tropicalia movement. The Soil reached #1 on Canada’s “International” chart, and reached #42 on the Top 50. It is available for purchase at ostropies.bandcamp.com or on iTunes, and can be streamed on Spotify, and everywhere else.

Resume

Recent highlights

  • “Hamilton”, ‘And Peggy’ National Tour (2022-2023) – Music Director
  • “Boy Falls From The Sky”, Mirvish Productions & Past Future Productions (2022) – Music Director ** nominated –  2022 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Music Direction
  • “13 The Musical”, Netflix Productions (2021) – rehearsal pianist
  • “Dear Evan Hansen”, Mirvish Productions (2019)  – Associate Music Director

Theatre – Music Direction & Conducting

(† denotes add’l keyboard programming credit)

  • “Hamilton”, ‘And Peggy’ National Tour (2022-2023) – Music Director
  • “& Juliet”, Mirvish Productions (2022) – Associate Music Director
  • “Boy Falls From The Sky”, Mirvish Productions & Past Future Productions (2022) – Music Director ** nominated –  2022 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Music Direction
  • “Follies”, Royal Conservatory of Music (2021) * Associate Music Director
  • “Ride The Cyclone”, Theatre Sheridan (2021)
  • “Dear Evan Hansen”, Mirvish Productions (2019) * Associate Music Director
  • “Grease”, Irregular Entertainment (2018) * Assistant Conductor
  • “The Addams Family”, The Bishop Strachan School (2018) †
  • “The Drowsy Chaperone”, Randolph Theatre (2017) †
  • “The Theory Of Relativity”, The Bishop Strachan School (2017) †
  • “Pippin”, The Bishop Strachan School (2016) †
  • “Urinetown”, The Bishop Strachan School (2015) †
  • “James & The Giant Peach”, Young People’s Theatre (2014) * substitute MD
  • “The Who’s Tommy”, The Bishop Strachan School (2014) †
  • “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”, The Bishop Strachan School (2013) †
  • Jeff Madden Little Big Band, Global Village Creative (2011)
  • Brampton Mayor’s Gala, Global Village Creative (2010)
  • Alison Smyth – “Live, Laugh, Love” (2010)

Theatre – Composition

  • “Night Feed”, Canvas Sky Theatre (2019)
  • “Last Man On Earth”, Keystone Theatre (2011 – 2014)
  • “Gold Fever”, Keystone Theatre (2013-2014)
  • “The Belle Of Winnipeg”, Keystone Theatre (2010)  ** winner –  2010 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Original Composition
  • “The Son Of The Man”, Theatre Lab (2008)
  • “Barakat & Jacopo”, Theatre Lab (2009)

Theatre – Keyboard Programming

  • “My Fair Lady”, Shaw Festival (2024)
  • “Natasha, Pierre, and the Great COmet of 1812”, Musical Stage Company (2023)
  • “Gypsy”, Shaw Festival (2023)
  • “Spamalot”, Stratford Festival (2023)
  • “Damn Yankees”, Shaw Festival (2022)
  • “Assassins”, Shaw Festival (2021)
  • “Gypsy”, Shaw Festival (2020) * on hiatus
  • “Holiday Inn”, Shaw Festival (2019, 2021)
  • “Brigadoon”, Shaw Festival (2019)
  • “Grand Hotel”, Shaw Festival (2018)
  • “HMS Pinafore”, Stratford Festival (2017) * assistant programmer
  • “Guys & Dolls”, Stratford Festival (2017) * assistant programmer
  • “Sound Of Music”, Stratford Festival (2015) *assistant programmer
  • “Carousel”, Stratford Festival (2015) *assistant programmer
  • “Sweet Charity”, Shaw Festival (2015) *assistant programmer

Musical Theatre – Performance

  • “Chicago”, Stratford Festival (2022) †
  • “Holiday Inn”, Shaw Festival (2019, 2021)
  • “Jesus Christ Superstar”, Mirvish Productions (2021) †
  • “Chicago”, Stratford Festival (2020) (rehearsal pianist)
  • “Dear Evan Hansen”, Mirvish Productions (2019) *associate musical director
  • “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory”, Mirvish Productions (2018) †
  • “Grease”, Irregular Entertainment (2017-2018) †
  • “Bat Out Of Hell”, Mirvish Productions (2017) †
  • “Cabaret”, Mirvish Productions (2017) †
  • “Kinky Boots”, Mirvish Productions (2016) †
  • “A Little Night Music”, Stratford Festival (2016) †
  • “Chorus Line”, Stratford Festival (2016) †
  • “Sleeping Beauty”, Ross Petty Productions (2016) †
  • “Sound of Music”, Stratford Festival (2015) †
  • “Cinderella”, Ross Petty Productions (2014) (rehearsal pianist)
  • “London Road”, Canadian Stage (2014)
  • “Jersey Boys”, National Arts Centre (2013) †
  • “West Side Story”, National Arts Centre & DanCap Productions (2012)
  • “Snow White”, Ross Petty Productions (2012) (rehearsal pianist)
  • “The Addams Family”, DanCap Productions (2011) †
  • “9 to 5”, DanCap Productions (2011) †
  • “Side By Side By Sondheim”, Sonus Productions (2011)
  • “Hairspray”, Drayton Entertainment (2011) †
  • “Jersey Boys”, DanCap Productions (2009-2010) †
  • “Wicked”, Mirvish Productions (2010) †
  • “Miss Saigon”, DanCap Productions (2010) (rehearsal pianist)

(† denotes substitute position)

Other Performance Credits

  • “Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Over The Rainbow”, CBC Television (2012) ** assistant music director”
  • Robert Pilon (2014 – present)
  • Rufus Wainwright & Guests – “If I Loved You: Gentlemen Prefer Broadway”, Luminato (2014) ** orchestra pianist; retained as personal rehearsal pianist for Rufus Wainwright, Josh Groban, Brent Carver, Boy George, Steven Page
  • Elton John, Janelle Monae & Guests, Fashion Cares Benefit (2012)
  • Shirley Jones (2012)
  • The Canadian Tenors (2010, 2011)
  • “The Sweetest Sounds: A Century of Song from Rodgers to Guettel (2010 – present)

Selected Discography

(* acted as producer)

  • Os Tropies – “The Soil” (2016) *
  • The Bishop Strachan School – “Radiance” (2016) *
  • Os Tropies – “Tropicalia!” (2013) *
  • Jordan Venn & The Slizneys – “Certified Organic” (2013) *
  • Jaron Freeman-Fox – “The Opposite of Everything” (2013)
  • Scott McCord & The Bonafide Truth – “Scott McCord & The Bonafide Truth” (2012)
  • Tova Kardonne – “The Thing Is” (2012)
  • Jeff Madden – “Live: My Life In Song” (2012)
  • DeeDee & The Dirty Martinis – “DeeDee & The Dirty Martinis” (2011)
  • Lauren Best – “Sticker Collection” (2011)
  • Dr. Payne & The Disease – “Patient #26581” (2009) *
  • Humber Studio Jazz Ensemble – “The Torch” (2008)
  • Humber College – “New Standards vol’s 8 – 11” (2005-2008)

Teaching Experience

  • Sheridan College – Musical Theatre (2020 – present)
  • Randolph College for the Performing Arts (2014 – 2022) 
  • The Bishop Strachan School (2011 – 2019) 
  • Toronto Institute For The Enjoyment Of Music (2009 – 2011)
  • Inside Music School (2005 – 2006)
  • Private Studio Instruction (2008 – 2019)

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