David Wightman was born in Bloomington Indiana, raised in Chapel Hill North Carolina, and currently lives in San Diego California where he is working towards a PhD in composition at UCSD. Before moving to California, David was living in Texas where he attended Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin.

David has worked with California EAR Unit, Shepherd Symphony Orchestra, Red Fish Blue Fish, Paperrad, Bang on a Can All Stars, Speculum Musicae, Nautical Almanac, Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, The Kenners, Beige Collective, and the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble. He has attended various music festivals and residencies including the Atlantic Center for the Arts, Bang on a Can Institute, the Arcosanti Workshop, the Domaine Forget New Music Session, La Schola Cantorum Composition Program, Cincinnati College Conservatory?s Music03 and the Aspen Music Festival.