David is a Music Educator and Freelance Percussionist based out of Northeast Ohio. His career in steel pan began in 2006 when he joined the Dover High School Steel Drum Band, under the direction of Joan Wenzel. Upon discovering a passion for music and pan, he pursued a Bachelor’s degree in both Music Education and Percussion Performance at The University of Akron, studying with Dr. Larry Snider and Matt Dudack. As a member of the Steel Drum Band, he had the pleasure of performing alongside guest artists such as Liam Teague, Dr. Mia Gormandy, Ray Holman, Robbie Greenidge, and many others. He continued his studies at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA where he received a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance. It was at this time he studied with renowned pannist Victor Provost. Victor’s program philosophy emphasized performing student based compositions and helped ignite David’s drive to create original works for steel bands, as well as create unique arrangements of well known tunes, and works for beginning steel pan performers.

Along with his studies, he had the honor of traveling to Trinidad and Tobago, the birthplace of the steel pan, to perform in the international festival and competition known as Panorama. His performances occurred in 2017, 2018, and 2019, all of which were with the Nutrien Silver Stars Steel Orchestra with Liam Teague serving as arranger. He also traveled to Brooklyn, NY in 2017 to perform in the Labor Day Panorama Competition hosted by WIADCA, performing with CASYM Steel Orchestra with Kendall Williams serving as arranger. Upon returning to Ohio in 2020, David has worked as a music teacher at Canton City School District, based in Canton, OH, since 2021. Along with his daily teaching duties, he directs the All Canton City Middle School Steel Band and is Co-Director of the Canton McKinley High School Steel Band. Along with the ensembles being active performers in the community, the program has hosted a steel band festival that features other scholastic steel band programs based in Northeast Ohio since 2022. He also served as a percussion/steel pan specialist for the Summer Music Programs at Mason Community Arts Academy, based in Fairfax, VA, in 2019 and 2020. He is also a member of the National Society of Steel Band Educators.