Musical Director: David Pearce

Musical Director: David Pearce


"I love the way the experienced, able players mix happily with those finding their feet. David is both exacting and forgiving in rehearsals, improving our playing and getting the best out of us, gently and always with good humour. Great music, good company and plenty of gigging opportunities."

David Pearce started his musical journey taking up the trombone at the age of 11 after hearing the music of Glenn Miller on the radio. Attending the local sixth-form college at the age of 16, he received tuition from the highly acclaimed and respected brass teacher, Doug Wilkie. David was fortunate to play regularly for many of the local orchestras and big bands, and at the age of 17 was principal trombone for the Nottingham Youth Orchestra and lead trombone for the Tony Farrell Big Band from 1999 to 2001.

In 2002 David began a four year undergraduate course at the Royal Northern College of Music, studying with some of the finest trombonists in the country; Chris Houlding, Robert Holiday and in his final year, Adrian Morris. During his first year he was awarded the prestigious "Stan Barker Memorial Prize" for jazz improvisation and playing in the RNCM Big Band. While studying at the RNCM he had the opportunity of playing in a variety of the college ensembles, including the Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Brass Band, Brass Ensemble and the RNCM Big Band under the direction of saxophonist Mike Hall. In the RNCM Big Band David had the privilege of working beside Jiggs Whigham, Don Lusher, Steve Waterman, John Warren, Anita Wardell, Andy Sheppard, Tina May, Matthew Herbert, Peter Wraight, Julien Joseph, Bob Mintzer and John Wilson. David also studied conducting with Sir Mark Elder, Clark Rundell and Philippe Bach (current music director of Meiningen's Hofkapelle and Theatre) in his fourth year.

David entered the RNCM as a tenor trombonist and during his second year he was approached by Chris Houlding and was asked if he would consider studying bass trombone as well as tenor trombone. David jumped at the chance and for the remainder of his time at college, studied bass trombone with Adrian Morris - bass trombonist with the Hallé Orchestra. He also studied tenor and bass sackbut with early music specialists Sue Addison at the RNCM and Jean-Jacques Herbin at the Conservatoire National de Région de Paris.

After graduating with a BMus (Hons) degree in 2006, David has enjoyed a varied career to date. He can often be seen playing with various big bands around the country, and is the bass trombonist for the Nick Ross Orchestra currently on tour with "The Sounds of the Glenn Miller Era". He is also second trombone with the world's finest ensemble for Ballroom Dancing; the Empress Orchestra - directed by Ashley Frohlick. With the Empress Orchestra David has toured Italy, Russia, Singapore and Shanghai, China.

David has had the pleasure of working with the Andy Prior Big Band, Glenn Miller Orchestra UK (Directed by Ray McVay), the Glenn Miller Tribute Orchestra, Memphis Belle Swing Orchestra, Squadronaires Dance Orchestra, Nelson Riddle Tribute Orchestra, Kings of Swing Orchestra, Swing Shift Big Band, Debbie Curtis Radio Big Band, Stephen Triffitt and his "Sinatra Live at the Sands Concert", Jeff Hooper and his Swing Easy Big Band, the Tony Jacobs - Sue Greenway Big Band, the Andy McKay Orchestra, and the French Glenn Miller Memorial Orchestra - participating in the January tour of France in 2008 and 2018.

David has worked with various West End actors and singers including: Louis Hoover, Chris Mann, Allie Laurie, Nigel Casey, Mark Halliday and Alonzo Saunders with The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas show, touring not only the UK but also Stuttgart and Hannover. He has also played trombone on several dates during the Back to Bacharach show tour and has recorded with comedy actor and musician Graham Fellows (aka John Shuttleworth) in 2018.

On the 'orchestral side of life' David has played for the Hallé Orchestra, the London Pro-Arte and is regularly called upon to play for orchestras all around Europe. Notable performances include playing bass sackbut for Forum Sinfonietta in the south of France in Mozart's "Requiem". His highlights also include playing in the Opéra Comique, the Salle Pleyel and the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, for numerous performances of French orchestral repertoire, operas and operettas with Orchestre Ostinato as principal bass trombonist under the direction of highly acclaimed conductor, Jean-Luc Tingaud.

David is also Musical Director of  The John Miller Orchestra, Musical Director of the Slidekicks Trombone Quartet based in Lincolnshire and a busy teacher of brass both in schools and privately. You can find more information by visiting his personal website: www.david-pearce.co.uk

As well as his conducting duties, David also arranges all the music and manages the day-to-day running of the orchestra. When asked why he wanted to form a wind orchestra, David says:

"Through-out my teaching I'm asked so many times if I 'know of any groups in the area to play with?' I soon discovered that although there are many wonderful brass bands, big bands and a symphony orchestra, there is actually no wind orchestra that allows all wind players to join forces. I feel making musical opportunities for anyone is so important, and important for me to give something back. It not only allows like-minded people to come together to make music, but also establish long-lasting friendships."

In his spare(!) time, David has a keen interest in photography and building and designing websites for musicians.

David Pearce - Louth Wind Orchestra conductor
David Pearce - Conductor of Louth Wind Orchestra