David began his musical studies on the clarinet at age 10. Two years later, he was asked to learn saxophone to fill out the section for the middle school jazz band. Once in high school, David pursued private study of the saxophone (and later flute and clarinet) with woodwind performing artist/educator Curt Hanrahan. He served as drum major of the award-winning Cudahy High School Marching Band and performed lead alto in the jazz ensemble. David also played baritone saxophone in the UW-Milwaukee Youth Jazz Ensemble and participated in the 2000 WSMA State Honors Jazz Ensemble.
In 2001, David continued his education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). During his tenure there, he participated in various ensembles including the wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, symphonic band, concert band, Panther pep band, and orchestra. In addition to continued saxophone study with Curt Hanrahan, he studied clarinet with William Helmers and bassoon with Beth Giacobassi, both members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Other notable artists he has had the pleasure of learning from include Los Angeles-based multiple woodwind recording artist Jay Mason and retired MSO principal flautist Jeani Foster. David served jazz band manager for both the college band and UWM Youth Jazz Ensembles I & II for 3 years. In May of 2005, David graduated with honors from UWM with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Multiple Woodwind Performance. He was the first person to graduate from the new degree program.
As a performer, David’s talents have taken him around the world. In 2002, David was asked to perform in the Disney cast of Blast II: Shockwave, at the Epcot Center of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. There, he worked with the Emmy and Tony Award-winning creative team of Blast! to open a new theatrical show. In the summer of 2008, he worked with the same production team, touring various cities in Japan as a woodwind swing in the two-hour Broadway-style show, Blast II: MIX (Music in eXtreme).
Since then, David has performed in various cities, including New York, Chicago (including the historic Jazz Showcase), Madison, and all around the Greater Milwaukee area. His career has featured performances with renowned artists including Grammy recipients Dianne Shuur, Arturo O’Farrill, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Box Tops, and Johnny Mathis. Other notable performers include singer/songwriter Bobby Caldwell, gold and platinum-selling artists Cheap Trick, jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis, the Cab Calloway Orchestra, and Sharon Owens (Barbra Streisand tribute act). Additionally, David has performed with national touring musicals at the Fox Cities PAC (Appleton), the Overture Center (Madison), and the Marcus Center for Performing Arts (Milwaukee) for productions of Mean Girls, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Funny Girl, and Tina the Musical.
Locally, David has performed with various music ensembles and theaters, including Present Music (nationally recognized contemporary music ensemble), the Skylight Music Theater, the Milwaukee Rep, the Fireside Theater, the Sunset Playhouse, and the Waukesha Civic Theater. He has also been heard with live entertainment groups Dynasty, Diamond, Cold Sweat and the Brew City Horns, The Mr. Lucky Syndicate, North Coast Orchestra, Michael Drake’s No Tan Lines Band, The Milwaukee Jazz Orchestra, the Starliner Big Band, Jason Gillette & The Showtime Big Band, D’CalleSon, as well as numerous pit orchestras for community theaters. David was a long-time member of Wall of Sound and the All-Star SUPERband. In April of 2008, he performed as a guest artist with the Arrowhead Jazz Ensemble at the Hot Chili, Cool Jazz concert. David has also been a featured instrumental soloist with the Jubilate Chorale. Currently, he performs with WI Polka Hall of Fame artist, the Mike Schneider Polka Band. David is a member of the Milwaukee Musician’s Association Local #8, an affiliate of the American Federation of Musicians.
In addition to his performing career, David is also recognized throughout the Greater Milwaukee area as a music educator. He has served as a clinician/coach at schools in Cudahy, Hartland, Kenosha, Mequon, Oak Creek, Oconomowoc, and Waukesha. David began his teaching career as the saxophone instructor at Homestead High School. He was also a woodwind instructor at Lincoln Music House, one of Milwaukee’s oldest music establishments. Currently, David teaches woodwinds at the Waukesha County Conservatory of Music, in Hartland(WI), where he has been since 2005. The Waukesha County Conservatory of Music is one of the largest conservatories attached to a music store in the country, giving more lessons than most conservatories in the country.
David also has an interest in band instrument repair. He studied the craft of band instrument repair under NAPBIRT technician Anne T. Widener at Lincoln Music House.
David can be heard on several CDs from local recording artists. He recorded on three CDs from his time with the UWM Jazz Ensemble/UJAY. Also, he has recorded with Wisconsin blues artist Mare Edstrom on two of her CDs, Sugar Sweet and Way Beyond The Blue. The All-Star SUPERband released a CD titled Live at the Miramar which David played the alto sax, clarinet, and flute. Additionally he recorded tenor sax, flute, clarinet, and bassoon on Thor Bremer’s 2011 album The Multitude. David has recorded several musicals for the Fireside Theater, including Beautiful, White Christmas, and Jersey Boys. He can also be heard on many big band tracks for Excelcia Music Publishing. On David’s Youtube channel, he had recorded many easy solos for educators to use as examples for their students.
Equipment
| Flute: | Muramatsu ST (manuf. 1979) |
| B foot, open hole, solid silver, split E, offset G | |
| headjoint: | Miyazawa, solid sterling, hand cut |
| Piccolo: | Di Zhao DSP-201 |
| Alto Flute: | Di Zhao DZA-100 |
| Clarinet: | Buffet R-13 (manuf. 1985) |
| Buffett R-13 Greenline | |
| mouthpiece: | Instant Gratification, custom by Eddie Daniels |
| barrels: | |
| Bassoon: | Schreiber S-56 (manuf. 1971) |
| bocal: | Heckel |
| Soprano Sax: | Yanagisawa S-991 |
| mouthpiece: | Phil-tone Sapphire |
| Alto Sax: | Yanagisawa AWO10, Keilwerth SX-90 R, black nickel |
| mouthpieces: | Selmer Concept (classical); Phil-tone Rift (jazz) |
| Tenor Sax: | Keilwerth SX-90 R, black nickel |
| mouthpieces: | Selmer S-90, 190 facing (classical); Peter Ponzol M1, 120 (jazz); |
| Baritone Sax: | Keilwerth SX-90 R, black nickel |
| mouthpiece: | Ernie Northway custom HR, 100/3 |