David Cheek was born on May 12, 1985, in New York City. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his mother being a pianist and his father a cellist. From a young age, Cheek showed a natural talent for music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Cheek's parents recognized his potential and enrolled him in the Juilliard School's Pre-College Division when he was just six years old. He studied under renowned pianist Yoheved Kaplinsky and quickly became one of her star pupils. As a teenager, Cheek began to gain recognition for his talent. He won several competitions, including the New York State Music Teachers Association Piano Competition and the International Piano Competition for Young Musicians in Enschede, Netherlands. In 2003, Cheek was accepted into the Juilliard School's undergraduate program, where he continued to study under Kaplinsky. He quickly established himself as one of the school's top pianists and was awarded the prestigious Arthur Rubinstein Prize in Piano in 2005. After graduating from Juilliard in 2007, Cheek continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. There, he studied under renowned pianist Gary Graffman and honed his skills as a performer. Cheek's career as a concert pianist took off in the years following his graduation from Curtis. He performed with some of the world's top orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. In 2012, Cheek was awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant, which recognizes young musicians who show exceptional talent and promise. The grant provided him with the financial support he needed to continue his career as a concert pianist. Cheek's performances were praised for their technical precision and emotional depth. He was known for his ability to bring out the nuances of a piece of music and to connect with his audience on a deep level. In addition to his work as a performer, Cheek was also a dedicated teacher. He taught at the Juilliard School's Pre-College Division and at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he had studied just a few years earlier. Tragically, Cheek's promising career was cut short when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2016. He underwent treatment, but the cancer proved to be too aggressive, and he passed away on June 15, 2017, at the age of 32. Cheek's legacy as a musician and teacher lives on through the many students he inspired and the recordings of his performances that continue to be cherished by classical music fans around the world. His talent, dedication, and passion for music will always be remembered.

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