DAVID TWITCHINGS AVCM
Biography
Boys Brigade
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.
Flying High
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.
The Well Tempered Player
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).
It Don't Mean A Thing
If It Ain't Got That Swing
He has always sustained a keen interest in big band / swing band music since his days in the Royal Air Force and was lead trumpet with the Mainline Big Band in Bedford and a member of the trumpet section of the A45 Big Band in Northamptonshire.
David also formed brass quintet, Commonwealth Brass.
Directing Operations
In January 2004, David was appointed Musical Director of Bedford Brass,taking over that role from our founder Terry Hext, who retired due to ill health
During his time leading Bedford Brass, his influences were always visible with plenty of jazz, swing and military pieces working their way into the repertoire and concerts supporting RAFA.