David Sonin

Who was David Sonin?

David Sonin was a music critic and arts journalist.

He was born in Whitechapel, East London, in 1935, but his father Isidore moved his family to Australia shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. He was educated at a Jesuit primary and Sydney Grammar School, then read mathematics and physics at the University of Sydney. He began a journalistic career at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Sonin returned to London in 1963, where he met and married the pianist Gillian Sack. Sonin had brief turns at VisNews and ITN, then became publicity director for the Jewish National Fund and the Joint Israel Appeal. He returned to print journalism in 1978, writing for the Jewish Chronicle, and was ultimately appointed arts editor. Until he retired in June 2000, demonstrated enthusiasm for the arts, particularly classical music and performance. Sonin was passionate about the place of music in the local community and supported the Hampstead and Highgate Music Festival, and the Highgate Choral Society. He also worked for the Jewish Music Institute.

His final work was the music critic for the Hampstead & Highgate Express. Sonin died of cancer in May 2008, aged 72.