Principal orchestral performer, trumpet soloist, and music academic.
Tailored guidance and mentorship for advanced trumpet players.
Students achieving success in top orchestras and academies around the world.
A holistic approach that builds resilience, focus and confidence.
Mark David enjoys a distinguished international career as a principal orchestral performer, trumpet soloist, and music academic.
From 2011 to 2026 he served as Artistic Director and Head of Brass at the Royal Academy of Music in London and now holds the John Wilbraham Chair as Visiting Professor. In 2022 he was conferred the title of Professor of the University of London.
Throughout his career, Mark has been committed to helping advanced students realise their professional aspirations through his distinctive “guided self-discovery” approach to teaching and mentorship. Many of his former students now hold prominent orchestral, academic, and educational positions around the world.
Alongside his international teaching, performing, and recording commitments, Mark offers a limited number of private online and face-to-face lessons, together with bespoke residential clinics that combine exceptional musical training with inspiring experiences beyond the practice room.
Designed for advanced trumpet players with professional ambitions, these sessions provide personalised guidance, practical insight, and a clear pathway towards achieving the highest levels of performance.
Royal Academy of Music
University of London
And Head of Brass Royal Academy of Music
To students in leading orchestras, academies and teaching institutions
Technical ability is only part of the journey.
Through expert guidance, demonstration and guided discovery, Mark helps you move beyond technique alone – developing greater musical freedom, confidence and a distinctive musical voice.
Advanced coaching wherever you are.
Mark David has built a distinguished international career as a principal orchestral trumpet player, soloist, and recording artist, with performances spanning the symphonic, operatic, and chamber music repertoire.
His principal orchestral appointments have included the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and Opera North. He currently serves as Principal Trumpet with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
Mark has appeared as a soloist in repertoire that includes Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra at London’s Royal Festival Hall under Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 with the Philharmonia directed by András Schiff.
Further concerto and featured solo engagements have taken him across the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, and the United States, including performances with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
Mark has performed at private concerts for members of the Royal Family at both Highgrove House and Buckingham Palace. He has also appeared regularly with the London Sinfonietta and the Nash Ensemble, with whom he recorded Saint-Saëns’ Septet in E-flat major, Op. 65. His trumpet playing can also be heard on numerous film and television soundtracks.
A body of work that reflects a deep commitment to musical excellence and expressive communication.
Mark David believes that success as a musician is shaped by far more than the hours spent in the practice room. His approach to teaching and performance has been profoundly influenced by the lessons he has learned through pursuits beyond music.
Alongside his distinguished musical career, he is a certified ski instructor, personal trainer, mountain bike leader, and an enthusiastic ultra-endurance athlete. He believes these experiences have strengthened the resilience, focus, discipline, and ability to perform under pressure that are essential to a successful career as a professional musician.
This holistic philosophy has underpinned his own international career, combining orchestral performance with influential teaching and leadership roles in higher music education. It also forms the foundation of his “guided self-discovery” approach, helping talented trumpet players develop not only their technical excellence but also the confidence, resilience, and mindset needed to thrive at the highest level.
If you aspire to a professional career in trumpet performance, Mark would be delighted to discuss how his coaching and mentorship can help you realise your potential. The experiences of former students offer a powerful insight into his unique coaching philosophy and the results it has achieved.
When people ask me who my best teacher was, I always say Mark David. Without exception, every time I walked into his teaching studio at the Royal Academy of Music, I walked out with mob problem solved. His teaching is precise and accurate and always delivered in a challenging yet encouraging manner. I am so grateful for all the Mark has done for me, and I wholeheartedly endorse his coaching.
Make an enquiry to arrange a coaching consultation to discuss how Mark David’s mentorship can help you achieve your musical goals or contact Mark below.
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