Thomas Binkley Award

2025 Recipient: David Esteban Escobar

David Esteban Escobar‘s approach to musical performance is grounded in an artistic practice that weaves together historical knowledge, contemporary sensitivity, and a profound sense of social responsibility. Through the rigorous study of primary sources and expertise in period instruments—always in dialogue with the aesthetic diversity of a multicultural world—David Esteban bridges scholarship and performance, cultivating a living musical tradition as performer, researcher, and educator.

David Estebanearned his undergraduate degree in cello at Baylor University, followed by a master’s in viola da gamba and baroque cello at Oberlin Conservatory, and later a doctorate in historical performance at Case Western Reserve University. His principal teachers include Gary Hardie, Jann Cosart, Catherina Meints, René Schiffer, Kenneth Slowik, and Julie Andrijeski, while his research was shaped by the guidance of Peter Bennett, Ross Duffin, and Susan McClary.

Since returning to Colombia, David Esteban has played a key role in establishing historically informed performance as a vital artistic and pedagogical force in the region. As Artistic Director of the Academia de Música Antigua de Medellín and the ensemble Los Gustos Extranjeros, he leads educational and creative projects that foster musical excellence, expand equitable access to specialized knowledge, and promote an ethical vision of music as a transformative cultural force for new generations.

It is profoundly humbling to receive the 2025 Thomas Binkley Award. This distinction carries a special responsibility, as it not only honors past achievements but also underscores the ongoing work of shaping early music’s place within a broader cultural landscape. My sincere gratitude goes to Early Music America for its unwavering commitment to fostering a more creative and vibrant musical community. May this recognition also serve as an inspiration to the many students with whom I have shared the discovery of early music’s beauty; their curiosity and commitment are the sparks that make this journey so meaningful and worthwhile.

-David Esteban Escobar

Past Recipients