David Gold Performs with the Eagles in Madison Square Garden

Talk about life in the fast lane — MBS Performing Arts Department Chair and strings teacher David Gold recently played three sold-out concerts with the Eagles at Madison Square Garden this past weekend as part of their Hotel California 2020 Tour. 

Gold, who played viola as part of a full orchestra, accompanied the Eagles as they performed their legendary Hotel California album in its entirety, plus a set of greatest hits. The group, consisting of Don Henley, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmidt, was also joined by Vince Gill and Glenn Frey’s son, Deacon.

“They sounded amazing — there’s no question they are great musicians, and they’re touring with one of the best sound engineers in the world. It was like listening to the original recordings, but live; you could hear every note, every vocal harmony. I also had the best seat in the house; I was literally front row center!” said Gold. “The orchestra was ridiculous, too…some of the best string players in New York. There were people from the Metropolitan Opera the New York Philharmonic and just about every Broadway pit.”

While Gold teaches a number of classes at MBS, he is really looking forward to introducing an Advanced Strings course next year in the fall. “I’m excited about the Advanced Strings course because in addition to emphasizing technique on the highest level, we will focus on audition and recording skills,” said Gold. “I want the students to see that if they put in the work, there are a lot of exciting opportunities out there. Maybe one day they will be recording with or playing alongside their musical heroes, too.”

Outside the classroom, Gold has had quite a distinguished and varied background as a musician. He has performed with members of R.E.M. on The Late Show with David Letterman, with Sinead O’Connor on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, with Christina Aguilera on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, with Ray LaMontagne on Saturday Night Live, and with John Mayer on Sesame Street.

He has recorded with Tony Bennett, Norah Jones, David Byrne, and Sheryl Crow; performed with Hall & Oates, Lou Reed, Johnny Mathis, Cassandra Wilson, and Burt Bacharach; and subbed on many Broadway shows, includingWicked, Miss Saigon, Sunset Boulevard,Fiddler on the Roof, Les Miz, On the Town, An American in Paris, Finding Neverland, South Pacific, Gypsy, Spamalot, Into the Woods, Kiss Me Kate, and The Lion King.  In 2017, he played the First National Tour of Bright Star, a bluegrass-infused musical written and composed by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell.