David Lipten’s music possesses "a strength and integrity...along with a deep [and]...rigorous musical lyricism.” The New York New Music Ensemble/Harvey Sollberger, the Chester Quartet, and the Bienen Early/Contemporary Ensemble/Donald Nally, among others, have premiered his compositions. His string quartet, Ictus, received first prize at the Portland Chamber Music Festival. The chorus “Volti” performed Time’s Dream for chorus (E.E. Cummings, poems) on three occasions. That piece was also a finalist for the 2013 American Prize following its release on the CD, Best Served Cold, in 2012. David’s most recent CD (September 2016) features the choral works “A Widow’s Song” and “How To” from the cycle of the same name (William Reichard, poems). The latter is a finalist for the 2018 American Prize. Both were recorded by the New York Virtuoso Singers, Harold Rosenbaum, conductor.

The Fromm Foundation/Harvard University and the Verdehr Trio, among others, have commissioned his work. He has received awards from St. Paul’s Chamber Music, Music+Culture, ASCAP, and the ISCM, etc. He has been a fellow at the Yaddo and MacDowell artist colonies, in residence at the Aspen, CSU and Oregon-Bach festivals, and at the June in Buffalo Composers Conference. David holds a Ph.D. from Duke University (Scott Lindroth, advisor) and an M.A. from Queens College/CUNY (Thea Musgrave, advisor).