Dave Pearce Orchestra - About Dave Pearce

Nottingham born and bred, Dave Pearce started to play the trombone at the age of 11. His main influence to take up the instrument was after listening to music of the big band era, in particular the music of Glenn Miller. By 16 he was taking trombone lessons from bandleader and trombonist Chris Dean, and the late Don Lusher, OBE.

In September 2002, Dave gained a place at the highly acclaimed Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, where he studied with some of the finest trombonists in the country; Chris Houlding, Robert Holiday and in his final year, Adrian Morris. During his first year he was awarded the prestigious "Stan Barker Memorial Prize" for jazz improvisation and playing in the RNCM Big Band. While at the RNCM he had the opportunity of playing in a variety of the college ensembles including the Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Brass Band, Brass Ensemble and the RNCM Big Band under the direction of saxophonist, Mike Hall. In the RNCM Big Band Dave had the privilege of working beside Jiggs Whigham, Don Lusher, Steve Waterman, John Warren, Anita Wardell, Andy Sheppard, Tina May, Matthew Herbert, Peter Wraight, Julien Joseph, Bob Mintzer and John Wilson, to name a few. It was during his second year, in 2004, that Dave formed The Dave Pearce Orchestra.

After graduating with a BMus (Hons) degree in 2006, Dave has enjoyed a varied career to date. As well as the Musical Director of the DPO, he can often be seen appearing playing tenor or bass trombone with many of the professional big bands in England. He regularly works with the Nick Ross Orchestra, the John Miller Orchestra and the Empress Orchestra (where he has toured Italy, Russia, Singapore and Shanghai, China). He has also appeared with the Glenn Miller Orchestra (UK) led by Ray McVay, the Andy Prior Orchestra, Jeff Hooper and his Swing Easy Big Band, Tony Jacobs - Sue Greenway big band, Stephen Triffitt and his "Sinatra Live at the Sands Concert", the Glenn Miller Tribute Orchestra, Memphis Belle Swing Orchestra, Squadronairs Dance Orchestra, Nelson Riddle Tribute Orchestra, Kings of Swing Orchestra, Swing Shift Big Band, and the Debbie Curtis Radio Big Band. In January 2008 and 2018 Dave played in the French Glenn Miller Memorial Orchestra for their tour of the south of France. He has also worked with 'West End' singers such as Louis Hoover, Chris Mann, Allie Laurie, Nigel Casey, Mark Halliday and Alonzo Saunders with “The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas” show, touring not only the UK but also Stuttgart and Hannover. He has also played trombone on several dates during the Back to Bacharach show tour and has recorded with comedy actor and musician Graham Fellows (aka John Shuttleworth) in 2018.

On the 'orchestral side of life' Dave has played for the Hallé Orchestra, the London Pro-Arte and is regularly called upon to play for orchestras all around Europe. Notable performances include playing bass sackbut for Forum Sinfonietta in the south of France in Mozart's "Requiem". His highlights also include playing in the Opéra Comique, the Salle Pleyel and the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, for numerous performances of French orchestral repertoire, operas and operettas with Orchestre Ostinato as principal bass trombonist under the direction of highly acclaimed conductor, Jean-Luc Tingaud.

As well as a busy trombonist and bandleaderof the Dave Pearce Orchestra, Dave is also musical director of the Louth Wind Orchestra and an active teacher. Please visit his personal website for more information: www.david-pearce.co.uk