David Walters has performed and taught classical and jazz piano in the Chattanooga area for many years. He has served on the music faculties at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College, Cadek Conservatory of Music, and the McCallie School. His students have won many awards, including first prize in the Oberlin Conservatory National Jazz Piano Competition for high school students.

Walters’ performance résumé includes many solo classical piano recitals and chamber music concerts at universities throughout the area, including UTC, Bryan College, Southern Adventist University, Lee University, Chattanooga State, the University of the South, and Jacksonville State University.

Equally well-known as a jazz pianist, he has had many local and regional appearances with his jazz trio, the David Walters Trio, and has had numerous appearances throughout the area as a solo jazz pianist. He has performed at many public and private events, including the United States Governors Conference, and also at an event for former President Gerald Ford. He has performed in various jazz ensembles at universities throughout the area and has also performed a number of times with his trio and various jazz vocalists at the Chattanooga Riverbend Festival.

He collaborated with artist/filmmaker Judith Mogul in the creation of two short films. He was the music director and performed on her film, The Elephant Tree, and he was the music director, composed the music, and performed on her film, Blow Over. He has also appeared on four CDs with vocalist Kathy Tugman: Your Sky Swings and Changes, Robin on the Frost, Almost Off the Dial, and Out of Brightness.

Regarding other educational pursuits: In conjunction with the Chattanooga Parks Department and the Bessie Smith Hall, Walters collaborated with Paul Vogler and Clint Schmitt to create the Bessie Bus summer mobile music educational program, which traveled to different parks and recreation centers in the area to teach children about jazz and the blues. The program received the Dorothy Mullen National Arts Award.

Walters received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Olga Conus, David Bar-Illan, and Richard Morris. Among his performance awards, he was twice a national semi-finalist in the American Music Scholarship Association National Piano Competition, and he won the Ohio Music Teachers Association State Piano Competition.

He has been a member of the Tennessee Music Teachers Association since 1991 and has served as president of the Chattanooga Music Teachers Association. He has adjudicated at the CMTA Local Auditions, the TMTA State Competition, the Georgia Music Teachers Association State Competition, and the Music Teachers National Association State Competition.