David, the son of legendary duo Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé, grew up in studios and concert halls; Faye, a lyricist and writer, found her voice early by turning everyday moments into poetry set to music.
Together, they’ve built celebrated careers in film, television, and theater, with credits ranging from the High School Musical movie trilogy to Earth, Wind & Fire, and everything in between. After decades of crafting songs that have reached millions around the world, David and Faye have found new joy in giving back—as donors, mentors, and champions of the next generation of musical voices.
That shared devotion to creativity and mentorship naturally led them to the LA Phil’s Composer Fellowship Program (CFP), a tuition-free initiative that nurtures young composers in grades 10 to 12. Created by the late Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Steven Stucky and now led by two-time Pulitzer finalist Andrew Norman, CFP gives students the rare opportunity to work directly with LA Phil musicians, hear their own compositions performed by professional ensembles, and attend more than 20 concerts each year at Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. It’s a rigorous, joyful immersion in the art and discipline of composition—and entirely free for participants.
“When we went to a CFP presentation, we were so moved,” says Faye. “You’re sitting in the room with the very students your support will impact. You can literally see the cause and effect of your giving.” For David, the program recalls the generosity he once received from mentors like arranger Don Costa and composer Alf Clausen, who gave him precious studio time to record orchestral demos early in his career. “That changed everything for me,” David says. “It made me realize how essential mentorship is—someone opening a door and saying, ‘Try this.’”
Now, through CFP, the couple is opening that same door for a new generation. They hope their support will help expand the program to reach students even earlier, giving young musicians the confidence to imagine composing as a life path.
Their connection to the LA Phil is deeply personal, too. Subscribers since the days when the orchestra performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, they vividly remember driving down Grand Avenue as Walt Disney Concert Hall rose from its foundations. “It was the moment Los Angeles finally had a true home for its orchestra,” David says. “Every time we walk into that hall, we feel that pride all over again.”
From the legacy of David’s family to their own decades of writing together, music has been the through line of the couple’s story. Through their support of CFP, David Lawrence and Faye Greenberg are ensuring that the creative spark endures—in the young composers who will shape the sound of the future.
To learn more about the Composer Fellowship Program and how to join David and Faye in supporting it, please contact Robert Albini at 213 972 3516 and by visiting laphil.com/cfp.