David Johnson BMus (Hons) LLCM LRSM
Born and raised in Sennen Cove near Lands End in Cornwall, David began his playing career on baritone with Penzance Silver Band before moving to Solo Euphonium at Lanner and District Silver Band, playing until he joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 1990.
During the last 26 years as a professional musician in the Royal Marines, his career has taken him all over the world, performing as a soloist in the USA, Canada, Russia, Ethiopia, Japan and Australia. I
n addition to his talents as a performer, David is also prolific arranger for wind and brass bands. For the past 11 years his music has been featured at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall and his more recent works include arrangements performed at the world premiere of the James Bond film ‘Skyfall’ and for Classic FM chart-topping saxophonist, Amy Dixon. In recognition of his achievements in this area, in 2013, 14, 15 & 16 he was awarded the prestigious Herbert Lott Award for Innovation and Invention in Orchestration.
David started his conducting career with Torbay Brass and in 2006 moved to Verwood Concert Brass where, over the course of three years, the band was promoted from Third to First Section. In 2010 David took up the position of Musical Director at Aldbourne Band and in 2011 steered the band to victories at the West of England First Section Regional Championships, Senior Trophy at the Spring Festival and the National Finals in Cheltenham. As recognition of his achievements with the band, he was nominated as ‘Conductor of the Year’ in the 4BarsRest Awards in 2011. Since Aldbourne’s meteoric rise to the Championship Section, David has achieved 3rd placings with the band at the Regional Championships in 2013 and 2014 respectively. These successes were also mirrored at the Spring Festival with promotion into the British Open’s Grand Shield in 2013
Having spent most of 2014 in the euphonium section of Cory Band, David picked up the batten once more with Aldbourne, helping the band secure a place at the National Finals in the Royal Albert Hall for the first time in 35 years.
He has now re-joined Lanner, originally as Solo Euphonium, before taking up the batten again after the departure of the previous conductor. He has so far led the band to a 1st place finish at the West of England Bandsman’s Festival in Bugle with the test piece Ballet for Band.
