David Starobin's performances and recordings have earned the native New Yorker prominence in the world of classical music. Composers including Elliott Carter, George Crumb, Poul Ruders, Gunther Schuller and Milton Babbitt have dedicated new works to him, producing a repertoire of more than three hundred new pieces. Starobin has performed these works throughout the world, collaborating with ensembles including The New York Philharmonic, National Symphony, Houston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Emerson Quartet, Guarneri Quartet, Copenhagen Radio Orchestra and Odense Symphony Orchestra.

David Starobin's solo recordings have received honors from journals ranging from Guitar Player to Gramophone. His CD, "Newdance", received a Grammy nomination as "Best Classical Solo Recording", and won the Association for Independent Music's "Indie Award" for best classical CD of 1999. In 1981, David Starobin founded Bridge Records, Inc.. Starobin's work for Bridge as guitarist, producer and executive producer has earned Mr. Starobin five Indie Awards and eleven Grammy nominations.

David Starobin began his guitar studies at age 7, with the Puerto Rican guitarist Manuel Gayol, later working with Albert Valdes Blain, and Aaron Shearer at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. While a student at Peabody, Starobin worked closely with pianist Leon Fleisher, and was a frequent participant in the Marlboro Music Festival. Among his many honors are a Harvard University Fromm Grant, for "his commitment to the music of our time"; a Lincoln Center Avery Fisher Grant; and Peabody Conservatory's "Distinguished Alumni Award".  Between 1993 and 2004, Starobin was the chairman of the guitar department at the Manhattan School of Music, where he holds the school's "Andres Segovia Chair". He previously headed guitar departments at Brooklyn College, Bennington College, The North Carolina School of the Arts, and at the State University of New York at Purchase.