David Sands

Founder & Executive Director

David Sands (they/them) is a cellist, educator, and arts leader based in Chicago, Illinois. A graduate of DePaul University and former Assistant Principal Cellist of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, David has built a multifaceted career spanning performance, recording, education, and arts leadership.

As a performer, David has appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s MusicNOW series, Chicago Fringe Opera’s A City of Works, and The Line-Up at Wrigley Field. Their studio and recording credits include contributions to Chi-Raq directed by Spike Lee, the television series Empire (“Mama”), and a 2023 Lexicon Classics release of Haydn’s Schottische und Walisische Volkslieder.

An in-demand clinician and mentor, David has led masterclasses and educational residencies for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, DePaul University, and North Park University, working with young artists to cultivate both technical excellence and artistic agency.

Beyond the stage of playOUT!, David is a dynamic cultural leader. They currently serve as Senior Advancement Manager for Apollo's Fire and an adjunct faculty member at DePaul University for future Music Educators. Their leadership in the city’s cultural landscape was recently recognized through their selection as one of Center on Halsted’s Inclusive Future Leaders, honoring emerging changemakers shaping a more equitable Chicago.