Posted June 10, 2011

David Lai is the 2010-11 inductee to the Shaker High School Alumni Hall of Fame.

Shaker High School has many outstanding alumni whose lives bring credit to the North Colonie Central School District. It is with great honor that Shaker High School announces its newest member to The Alumni Hall of Fame, Mr. David Lai, Class of 1982.

Mr. Lai is a conductor, music coordinator, consultant, director, and a Grammy Award-winning producer. He currently serves as a conductor for the Broadway company of The Phantom of the Opera. Other Broadway credits include: South Pacific, Mary Poppins, Miss Saigon, The Woman in White, Riverdance, Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserables, and Aspects of Love.

Mr. Lai has also conducted many symphony orchestras including Dallas, Fort Worth, Pacific, Taipei, Jacksonville, and the Kennedy Center Opera. Mr. Lai’s television appearances include: The Today Show, GMA, The View, and CBS This Morning. Mr. Lai’s recording credits include: four Eldar albums (including the Grammy –nominated album, Re-Imagination), and recordings by artists such as Nathan Gunn and Kristin Chenoweth. Broadway cast albums produced include: the Grammy Award winning West Side Story, South Pacific (Grammy nomination), Grease, The Wedding Singer, an all-star cast album of Allegro and Spanish cast albums of The Phantom of the Opera and Jesus Christ Superstar. Mr. Lai was also the A and R Executive for the Grammy winning songs Joy and Peace (Yo-Yo Ma) and the Grammy nominated Bach in Havana (Tiempo Libre). Most recently, Mr. Lai was Executive Producer for Joshua Bell’s At Home with Friends album and served as Consultant Producer for PBS Live at Lincoln Center’s broadcast, Joshua Bell with Friends. Mr. Lai also received an award from the Young People's Chorus of New York City as he serves on their Board of Directors.

Mr. Lai received a BA in Engineering/Economics and Music from Brown University, and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Columbia University.

Certainly, Mr. Lai is an alumnus who is an excellent role model and who inspires our students to continue the tradition of excellence which defines the North Colonie community. He will be honored at the Shaker High School graduation ceremony on June 25, 2011.