Full Biography

David trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Cambridge University and the Royal Academy of Music. Through the fantastic experiences of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and the European Union Youth Orchestra came a passion for music: both playing and teaching.

In 1993, with his friends, he founded Onyx Brass, dubbed "easily the classiest brass ensemble in Britain" by BBC Music Magazine. After many years freelancing with the major London orchestras including the LSO, RPO, LPO, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the BBC Orchestras, David has also enjoyed playing on various film soundtracks including The Two Towers and Zero Dark Thirty. David has been the tuba teacher at Eton College since 2001, receiving a promotion in 2009 to Head of Brass.In 2003, he was appointed principal tuba of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia which is the orchestra for Birmingham Royal Ballet. In addition, he has coached the tuba section of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, the brass section of the Herts County Youth Orchestra and given masterclasses all over the world with Onyx Brass including the Juilliard School in New York and the National Conservatory of Portugal in Lisbon.

At Eton College, David co-directs the Symphonic Wind Band and, since 2017 was appointed as musical director to the Symphonic Winds of Cardiff University. As recently as 2018 and 2019 they were awarded a platinum and gold award respectively at the National Concert Band Festival. In 2018, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire asked David to conduct the Conservatoire Symphonic Wind Band for the first time. David has returned every year since.

Autumn 2023 sees David make his debut with the Royal College of Music Wind Orchestra who will be performing the music of Anthony Barfield, Jennifer Higdon, Imogen Holst, Bruce Broughton and Peter Graham.

Ealing Wind Orchestra has long been a dream and 2023 sees this dream finally become a reality. David is also busy working locally in Ealing as a funeral celebrant.