David was born in Plymouth, England and began playing the trumpet at the age of ten, a year later he joined Plymouth Silver B on cornet.

He studied at the Coventry School of Music where he gained "A" level music and associated board grade 8 tenor horn and grade 8 music theory. He also played solo horn for the Coventry School of Music Band.

He then studied music at the Cambridge Colleg of Arts and technology (now called Anglia Polytechnic University) where he attained his graduate diploma in Music.

After graduating he moved to Brighton where he played solo horn for Patcham Silver Band.

In 1992 he returned to Plymouth where he started peripatetic teaching in schools and privatley. He then joined Saltash Band initially on tenor horn and later as conductor.

In 1995 he joined St Austell Band where he has played tenor horn and more recently cornet.

As well as being a peripatetic brass teacher in Plymouth and Cornwall David currently conducts the St Austell Junior Band and teaches at the St Austell Saturday School of Brass within the organisation.