David Rankin, 18, is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts high school program, where he studied viola with Jordan Bak. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, David began playing the viola at age 10 through his school orchestra program and began private lessons the following year. David has participated in summer festivals including the Bowdoin International Music Festival and the ENCORE Chamber Music Institute. In 2022, he won the Arts+ Concerto Competition and was named a Debbie Abels Strings Scholar. In 2024, he earned second prize in the Senior Strings Division of the North Carolina Music Teachers Association (MTNA) Performance Competition. He has performed in masterclasses with violists Carol Rodland, Ivo-Jan van der Werff, and Hsaiopei Lee, and has had the opportunity to collaborate and perform with renowned musicians including Ilya Kaler and Edward Arron. Passionate about arts advocacy and music education, David serves as a tutor for the Do Re Mi Project and is an advocate for Music Ed Matters. Outside of music, David enjoys listening to recordings, spending time with family and friends, and visiting the mountains.