The Austrian multi-percussionist David Christopher Panzl was born in Salzburg and began his percussion training at the age of four under the tutelage Martin Grubinger senior. He performed his first solo concerto at the age of 13 with the Reichenhall Philharmonic Orchestra. During his school days he travelled to New York several times in order to study jazz.
Panzl then moved to Vienna to complete his studies as a concert percussionist with Professor Josef Gumpinger at the Conservatory of Vienna Private University, where he then completed his Master of Arts degree with top honours in 2013, studying with Anton Mittermayr. Lastly, he studied Marimba in Tokyo at the Toho Gakuen School of Music under Keiko Abe.
He is currently lecturer for concert percussion at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
Concert opportunities developed with such orchestras as the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Vienna, the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, the Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg and the Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin.
As a soloist David Christopher Panzl has performed at the Suntory Hall Tokyo, the Seoul Art Center, the Vienna Konzerthaus and at the opening festivities of the Salzburg Music Festival. He has collaborated with exceptional artists such as Keiko Abe, Nebojsa Zivkovic, Jeff Queen, Tim Collins and HK Gruber. In addition, he also has performed solo concertos with the Nürnberg Symphony Orchestra, Innsbruck Symphony, Reichenhall Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Symphonic Wind Orchestra of Salzburg and the German Chamber Orchestra Berlin. He has played world premieres of the composers Keiko Abe, Shih, Johannes Motschmann, Jorge Sanchez Chiong, Enjott Schneider and J. Peter Koene.
David C. Panzl judges in international competitions and leads master classes worldwide.
His works are published by Doblinger Vienna and Pulsa Musica USA.
He appears with Paraty Records (Harmonia Mundi), Wergo (Schott Music) Edel Records Germany, endorses Yamaha, Zildjian, Vic Firth, Mike Balter and Loyal Drums.