David auditioned and gained placement in the Windham Swing Band in 2005 at age 11 on alto, while simultaneously excelling in clarinet to the point of making A ratings in all of the local NHMEA Solo and Ensemble competitions in each instrument, as well as first chair clarinet in the NHMEA Middle School Festival in 2006. The summers of 2006 and 2007 found him at the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Camp, studying with the likes of Lida Baker and her husband, legendary jazz musician David Baker, who remarked, upon hearing him play, “Man, you sure know how to put air in that horn!”. In the eighth grade, 2008, brought David into contact with local piano prodigy, Michael Sink, from Concord, NH, and the two brought Londonderry, NH's Tupelo Hall to its feet with their dynamic duo: “Two fourteen year-olds who are not just good. This may be the best act you see this year anywhere! In twenty years of hosting open mics I have never seen a standing ovation for a two song set until these guys got 100+ folks on their feet with rousing and enthusiastic applause!" said Robert Haigh, Host.
Freshman year of high school, 2009, was a turning point, as when he performed with the Bow High School's jazz band, while playing at the Berklee H.S. Jazz Festival in February, he won the “Judges Choice Award”, as well as a the “Special Citation for Outstanding Musicianship” at the 2009 Clark Terry UNH Jazz Festival that April. That March, he received a full tuition-paid scholarship to the Berklee College’s Five Week Summer Program. He also began to perform in Boston at several venues including “Slades” and “Ryles” with the likes of Frank Wilkins and Bobby Tynes. The following March, 2010, he was awarded the highest award available and was selected to be one of 14 at the Berklee College’s Summer Five Week program, a fully paid spot in its Jazz Workshop, with Terri Lynn Carrington, recording multiple CDs and performing with numerous ensembles. In 2011, David was selected to participate in the Dave Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony, where he was one of three saxophonists selected for the weeklong intensive, having the opportunity to study and work with artists such as Ingrid Jenson and Chris Cheek. Further, he was a finalist for the 3 year fully paid Brubeck Institute Fellowship Program. In 2012, David was chosen to tour Nagoya, Tokyo, Noto and Tomisato, Japan with the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. He participated in the ten day Vail Jazz Summer Workshop at the Vail Jazz Festival, working with notable artists such as Lewis Nash, Wycliffe Gordon, John and Jeff Clayton.
In the fall of 2012, David was awarded the Berklee College of Music Presidential Scholarship, which was given to only five out approximately 6,000 applicants. The Presidential Scholarship provides for all expenses for four years of study.
Late summer of 2010 found him on stage with Frank Wilkins and his group, playing for the “Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival” in Boston, where he had a “battle of the saxes” with alto saxophonist Pat Loomis, to the delight of the crowd! Recent venues include Yoshi's San Francisco, Monterey Jazz Festival, “Tokyo TUC” (Tokyo,Japan), New York City’s “Cleopatra’s Needle” and the “Jazz Standard.” Throughout, David has played for various charity events such as the “Partnership for Successful Living” in Nashua, NH, and recorded at the “Acton Jazz Café” in Acton, MA, traveled to the Vermont Jazz Center for jam sessions, and he has been the focus of Brattleboro’s home concert series in which he collaborated with the Director of the Vermont Jazz Centers Eugene Uman and others. Since starting at Berklee, David has participated in numerous ensembles and activities around Berklee, and has recorded on multiple student recitals, EP’s and albums in the Boston area. During the Summer of 2013 David was a regular solo performer at “The Jazz Bar” in Laconia, New Hampshire, and will be touring with the “Thinkin’ Big Band” including performances in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Canada; Buffalo and Rochester, NY and Providence, RI.
In sum, David’s teacher Harry Skoler, Professor at the Berklee College of Music put it this way: “David’s command, not only of the instrument, but also of the ability to communicate profound beauty in the language of music is a wonder to behold!”