biography
Hailing from Glasgow, and having begun his musical training at the High School with Paul Keohone, David moved to London in 2011 to begin a Master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering. Since then David has pursued a career as a freelance singer in the capital, performing both as a soloist and in several ensembles. He is the grateful holder of an Ash Music Scholarship at Imperial, and studies singing with Roderick Earle at the RCM.
David began his choral education as a scholar at New Kilpatrick Church in Glasgow, then at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral. After moving to London, he took up a scholarship at the Old Royal Naval College Chapel (in his opinion, one of the most beautiful sacred spaces in Britain) and was introduced to the Anglican tradition. Since then David has sung with many of London’s foremost church choirs and, after a stint as choir director at St Stephen’s Shepherd’s Bush, is currently a member of the professional quartet at Brook Green.
After gaining a place on the inaugural Genesis training scheme, run by The Sixteen, David has worked with many choirs and ensembles in the UK, including the Erebus Ensemble (and controversial Bristol Prom), Reverie, Albion Baroque, the National Portrait Gallery Choir and the Eric Whitacre singers. Recent tours include visits to Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney with the Fieri Consort (where he also holds a management role) and Portugal and Leipzig with the Gabrieli Consort. He has appeared on BBC Radio 3 with several groups.
Solo work has included the Fauré Requiem, Duruflé Requiem and Olivet to Calvary in Glasgow, the Nelson Mass, Israel in Egypt and Messiah with Imperial College Choir, Bach cantatas with Hammersmith and Fulham Choral Society, Christus in the St. John Passion, and Macmillan’s Seven Last Words From The Cross with Voce. David holds 1st place awards from Glasgow Music Festival in the Oratorio, Lieder, Show Songs and overall solo categories.
As of October 2014, David curates the Brompton Cemetery Chapel concert series, which aims to raise awareness of and funds for the Royal Parks’ development plans.
outreach
Being keenly aware of the support he has received, David is involved in several projects to train the next generation of young singers and musicians. He currently teaches several private pupils in London, specialising in recently broken voices and helping to regain musicality after this difficult transition. David is also a mentor at the London Youth Choir, and a member of the Vocal Futures chorus, a project which aims to educate young people through classical music, performing a staged version of Haydn’s Creation in a disused concrete lab in December 2013.
and the rest
David pursues many interests outside of singing and academia. A keen ski racer who enjoys walking amongst the beautiful landscapes of the west of Scotland, he is also an able linguist with a particular affinity for translation, and is involved in graphic design and publicity.