Captain David Cole MVO MMus ARAM RM

David Cole, born in Long Eaton, Derbyshire moved to London at the age of three. He attended Lyndhurst Grove and Oliver Goldsmiths' primary school from where, after sitting the 11 plus examination, he gained a place at Archbishop Tenison's Grammar School at the Oval. While attending Archbishop Tenison's he had his first organ lessons and also gained a Junior Exhibition place at Trinity College of Music on violin and piano.  

David received his early musical training with the Salvation Army and playing in the London Schools Symphony Orchestra on tuba. The family move to Forest Hill meant a move of schools to Haberdasher Aske's Grammar School at New Cross where he continued his musical development.

David joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 1967 from which he retired as a Director of Music after 32 years service. David studied conducting at the Royal Academy of Music and was awarded the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

His career in the Royal Marines culminated in September 1992 when he was appointed Director of Music to the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth and Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia. An appointment he held to December 1997 when the Royal Yacht was decommissioned in Portsmouth. The Queen honoured him by awarding him membership of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO).  

Following his long and distinguished career in the Royal Marines he spent the next few years in teaching as the Head of Music at Wellesley House, a top Independent Preparatory School in Broadstairs, Kent where he also continued his life-long love of sport and athletics.

David was appointed Director of Music to the Royal British Legion in 2006 and he directs the Central Band. He is also the Assistant Producer of the annual Festival of Remembrance, a major national event broadcast on BBC television and radio.   David's wide experience as a musical director ranges from symphony and concert orchestras, wind and brass bands, to choral conducting, big bands and dance bands. He is a pianist, organist, tuba and string bass player.

He has worked with a number of top ensembles and household names, Foden's Richardson Band, Leyland Band, the late Sir Harry Secombe, Roy Castle, Morriston Orpheus Choir and many others performing at such venues as the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Symphony Hall Birmingham, Fairfield Halls, Guild Hall Preston, Chichester Festival Theatre and Portsmouth Guildhall, all to capacity audiences.