David Williams, a 16 year old junior from Gladstone, Missouri has been playing piano for 8 years. For the last 6 he has been embracing ragtime, playing The Entertainer by Scott Joplin at his first ragtime performance.   Taught by Joe Dake in his home town, David attends St. Pius Catholic High School in Kansas City, Missouri.

He belongs to a musicians group at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Oakview, Missouri where piano, organ, tambourine and on occasion, timpani drums and is the primary pianist at his high school for masses and prayer services.   This past fall he shared piano duties with a professional pianist for the school musical production of "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown."   In addition to performing at the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival in Sedalia, Missouri, David plays ragtime at nursing homes in the area, the Gashland Methodist Church, school talent shows, weddings and last year performed during the Northland Chamber of Commerce dinner.   He also performs gospel, gospel ragtime, rock, contemporary as well as some classical music.

David has been a varsity soccer player as a freshman and sophomore being named second team All-District as a freshman forward, first team All-District and to the All Regional Soccer Team as a sophomore.   He enjoys being a member of the school academic team, fishing and playing chess.

(posted July 25, 2002)