David Coleman

Award-Winning Pianist David Coleman Develops Into an Artist

When he is not seated at the piano or organ, Erskine junior David Coleman can be a quiet guy. He lets his fingers do the talking as they fly over the keyboard, as they did last night at his junior piano recital, offered to a packed house in Memorial Hall.

"David has a great deal of integrity and has a deep respect for the music he is playing," said Dr. Matthew Manwarren, chair of Erskine's music department. "He has no hint of ego, which is admirable. He loves the music, he loves playing, and is not at all interested in promoting himself. His personal demeanor as a performer is very mature for someone his age."

Coleman, who won first prize in the South Carolina collegiate piano division competition of the Music Teachers National Association in November, will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., this Thursday as one of nine contestants in the Southern Division competition. What does Coleman have to say about all these contests and performances?

"Each performance is different," Coleman said Monday, looking toward his junior piano recital and the regional competition. "I look at each one as a whole new experience. Each one is a challenge."

He was certainly up to the challenge at his junior piano recital, receiving a standing ovation for a performance that included works by J.S. Bach, Chopin, Prokofiev and Ravel.

Erskine professor emerita Shirley Lampton, with whom Coleman began piano lessons when he was in the second grade, recalls that although Coleman began playing by ear before ever having a lesson, he would not play by ear for her.

"He was determined to learn to read music," Lampton said. She was only able to hear Coleman play by ear by entering his grandmother's house without his knowledge while he was playing the piano in the living room. "His grandmother told me that if I wanted to hear him play, I would have to stay in the kitchen so he wouldn't know I was there," Lampton said.

"He is now a fine accompanist and an excellent sight reader," Lampton said. "God gave him his talent, his parents gave him support and encouragement, I guided him with his musical foundation, and Dr. Manwarren has helped him develop into an artist."

Manwarren, who is Coleman's current piano instructor, has known about the Abbeville student's talent for a long time.

"I heard David play the piano for the first time when he was 13," Manwarren said. "I was asked to do a master class for the Greenwood Music Teachers Association, and I worked with him for the first time in that class.

"Since that very time, David's talent was quite evident. I followed his progress through high school, and was thrilled when he won the Erskine Young Artist Competition during his senior year in high school. Needless to say, I was very happy David decided to come to Erskine as a music major."

Coleman, a piano and organ performance major, is a member of Garnet Circle at Erskine, is consistently on the Dean's List, and on top of everything else, serves as organist at the Due West Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, where he works with Erskine professor emerita Cortlandt Koonts, who formerly served the church as organist and is now choir director.

"I've learned a lot from her direction," Coleman said of Koonts. He also serves as accompanist for the Erskine College Choraleers under the direction of Erskine Music Professor Dr. John Warren. "He has taught me a lot, too," Coleman said.

You might think that the piano and organ are so similar that Coleman has not really undertaken a true double major, but Coleman has something to say on that subject. "The piano and organ are very different instruments–the only similarity is the keys."

Coleman began organ lessons in the 10th grade, and while still in high school was substituting for Professor Koonts at the Due West ARP Church organ from time to time. "The footwork took some getting used to," Coleman recalled.

Erskine Seminary professor Robert Glick, who is Coleman's organ instructor, would probably say that this remarkable student is now used to the organ footwork–Coleman will present his junior organ recital this spring. In the meantime, there's Tuscaloosa and the regional piano competition.

"The fact that David has the opportunity to compete at such a high level with the other eight contestants from our division is a challenge that most students do not get," said Manwarren.

"David has a great future as a musician," Manwarren said. "He has an incredible gift, a great pianistic facility, and will be successful in whatever musical profession he pursues."

David Coleman and Dr. Linda Li-Bleuel of
Clemson University

David Coleman