At the age of seventeen David enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy Band where he studied french horn with Alex Grieve, principal horn of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He performed at ceremonial occasions, Grand Finals, Anzac Parades and services, and recorded several albums with the RAN recording Band. He served on the fleet’s flagship HMAS Melbourne performing with the US Marines Band in Pearl Harbour also serving at HMAS Cerberus and HMAS Penguin.
Upon leaving the RAN David undertook tertiary studies at the Victorian College of the Arts and Monash University. At the VCA he completed a ‘Diploma in Music Performance’ on french horn (teacher Alex Grieve) with elective studies in jazz piano with Bob Sedergreen and orchestral conducting with John Hopkins. He undertook graduate studies in ‘Horn – Orchestral & Solo Repertoire’ and ‘Community Music’. Orchestral repertoire studies were with Gordon Webb, former principal trumpet of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Sydney Symphony and horn studies with Reg Bishop formerly of the SSO. For Community Music studies he undertook projects in the Northern Territory collaborating with indigenous communities in Arnhem Land and state secondary and primary schools. David completed his ‘Diploma of Education’ at Monash University.
On French horn David was a member of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust Orchestra (now known as Orchestra Victoria) and also played with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, many professional theatre orchestras and in recording studios.
He was the Assistant Conductor of the Victoria Police Band playing french horn, trumpet, and keyboards.
In 2021 David relocated to Lismore after being ‘Director of Music’ in various private secondary colleges in NSW and Victoria. In these positions he developed and taught classroom curriculum also successfully creating and developing instrumental band programs. Since his relocation he has been appointed Music Director of the Northern Rivers Youth Orchestra and brass tutor for the Northern Rivers Conservatorium, established the Northern Rivers Brass Ensemble and joined the Lismore Symphony as Principal Horn. He loves living in the Northern Rivers and is active throughout the region performing in community orchestras and bands.
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