David Purkiss - Resident Conductor

David began playing the cornet at the age of four under the tuition of his grandfather, Alfred Gilbert, a retired Salvation Army Bandmaster. He was a member of the Salvation Army Junior Band from the age of 7 to 15, when he moved into the Senior Band at Derby Central where he was principal cornet for 8 years.

David graduated from Birmingham Conservatoire in 2005, obtaining a Bachelor of Music degree with Honours. During his time at the Conservatoire, he was principal cornet for the duration of his 4 year course. He then went on to study a Post Graduate Certificate of Education in Secondary Music teaching at Nottingham Trent University, graduating in 2006.

As a player David has been a member of Travelsphere Holidays Band (GUS), Pennine Brass and Fodens (Richardson) Band and has also played with other bands including Black Dyke, Grimethorpe and Brighouse and Rastrick. He has also held the Principal Cornet chair with both Fuoco Brass and Salvo Brass, two composite bands of musicians associated with the Salvation Army.

A lifelong ambition to become a member of The International Staff Band of the Salvation Army, David joined this band in January 2008 taking up the position of Solo Cornet for 3 years.

David began his conducting career in 2010 when he was appointed Resident Conductor of Foresters Brass and later went on to become the Musical Director of the Thoresby Colliery Band for before joining The Staffordshire Band in 2013, during which time he helped develop the band, leading them back to the Championship Section of the Midland Area.

In 2016, David took on the role of Musical Director with The Ratby Co-operative Band; a position he held until 2022 with great success on the concert and contest platform, contributing to some of the band’s most momentous occasions in recent history.

In 2022, David was delighted to accept the position of Resident Conductor with the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band, working alongside Allan Withington, the band’s Professional Musical Director.