As a young student of jazz composing and arranging, David Berger initially attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, subsequently going on to study at Ithaca College, Eastman School of Music, and Manhattan School of Music, where he was one of the leading members of the jazz composition and arranging faculty until 1999. In 1988, Berger took up post as the conductor and arranger for the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, which he held until 1994, transcribing and arranging countless scores of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn for the LCO's performances.