David Lu

Philadelphia-native David Lu is currently the Associate Principal Timpanist & Percussionist for the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he has occupied since 2018. In 2024, he was appointed Principal Percussionist for the Bay Atlantic Symphony. Mr. Lu has performed with a myriad of ensembles as a guest timpanist or percussionist, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Delaware Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Reading Symphony Orchestra, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, Symphony in C, Orchestra 2001, Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, Macao Orchestra, and Harbin Russo-Sino Orchestra. He has additionally performed in concert on tour productions by Salute to Vienna, Video Games Live!, Lindsey Stirling, Evanescence, and the Indigo Girls.

As an educator, David Lu has worked with students of all ages, from elementary school through the university level and beyond in both group and private settings. He has been invited to and given masterclasses and clinics in the United States, Mainland China, Hong Kong, and South Korea, including presenting for the Percussive Arts Society's (PAS) "Day of Percussion" event in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Presently, David is an inaugural educator for The Percussion Conservatory online platform, dedicated to providing high-quality percussion education media and content and educational scholarships for underprivileged students worldwide. He additionally teaches at the University of Pennsylvania's Symphony Orchestra program, working with students in the percussion section. He has taught for Symphony in C's education program as a percussion and music theory teacher, and presently works with caption-winning high school marching bands in the Philadelphia region. In recent years, his private studio has grown both in size and in student achievements, including admissions into various music festivals and programs, as well as admission into colleges and universities for music.

David obtained a Bachelor of Music degree from Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music & Dance as a scholarship student. He then furthered his studies, earning a Master of Music degree from the University of Maryland's School of Music. He has studied under the tutelage of Jauvon Gilliam, Eric Shin, Christopher Deviney, Phillip O'banion, and William Wozniak. Mr. Lu has received additional instruction and mentorship from Alan Abel, David Herbert, Sean Kennedy, Don Liuzzi, and Anthony Orlando. David is a proud performer and endorser of Decibel Percussion, JGpercussion, Dragonfly Percussion, Sabian, and Grover Pro Percussion products.