David began music and cornet lessons at the age of 11 with a
Boys Brigade Brass Band in London. He played for several London
bands before enlisting in the Royal Air Force as a Musician in 1967.
He studied for a year at the RAF School of Music and was then
posted to the Southern Band of the RAF as a cornet / trumpet player,
playing in their Military Band, Salon Orchestra and Dance Orchestra.
There he also formed a brass chamber group before returning to the
RAF School of Music for more advanced studies in harmony, conducting
and arranging. He has several brass band arrangements published
by Music for Brass Ltd.
On leaving the RAF, David was appointed Bandmaster / Cornetist with
Rushden Temperance Band and since then has played with several
Midlands bands, including Jaguar Cars.
He has also been Musical Director to two of these bands and in 1981 became
an Associate of the Victoria College of Music (AVCM).
He has always sustained a keen interest in big band / swing band music
since his days in the Royal Air Force and is currently lead trumpet with
the Mainline Big Band in Bedford and a member of the trumpet section
of the A45 Big Band in Northamptonshire.
David is also a member of the brass quintet, Commonwealth Brass, which he
formed three years ago.
In January 2004, David was appointed Musical Director of Bedford Brass,
taking over that role from their founder Terry Hext, who has retired due to
ill health.
