David Pettit, Euphonium
Having already been learning the piano for several years, David took up the euphonium as his second instrument at the age of 11, when he started secondary school in Plymouth. Over the next few years he worked rapidly through the Associated Board grades, taking Grade 8 aged 16 and a DipABRSM diploma the following year. During this time David played regularly with the school wind band and wind ensemble, and for four years also played with Devon Youth Wind Orchestra, enjoying concert tours to Trier (Germany) and Geneva (Switzerland).
It was not until he started at university in 2003 that David decided to try his hand for the first time in a brass band, but he was soon hooked and has not looked back since! He enjoyed four fantastic years with Cambridge University Brass Band, alongside his studies in Engineering at Christs College.
Particularly memorable were the bands annual tours, including such exotic destinations as Liverpool and Mid-Wales! After graduating in 2007, David moved to Derby to work as an engineer at Rolls-Royce, and was delighted to find that Rolls-Royce Derby Band had a vacancy for a second euphonium. David has greatly enjoyed the experience of playing with a contesting band for the first time.
David is also a keen hill-walker, and can usually be found in the hills at the weekends, both locally in the Peak District and further afield. He has climbed all 214 of the Wainwright fells in the Lake District, and is now working his way through Scotlands Munros!
