Born in Wigan, David Lancaster began his musical career as cornet player with Pemberton Old Band. He won the prestigious Alexander Owen Memorial Scholarship in 1976 which enabled him to study trumpet and cornet with Michael Antrobus. David studied music at York and Cambridge Universities where he specialised in composition. Since then his music has been played by many of the leading exponents of new music, in concerts and festivals all around the UK including Londons South Bank Centre and the Edinburgh Festival.
Since 1994 he has been a senior lecturer at York St John University; he is now in charge of a flourishing Music department where he teaches compos, world music, music technology and performance. Previously he has taught at colleges in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire and was Composer in Residence at Charterhouse for three years during which time he also worked as freelance trumpet player in London and Paris. In addition to his work in York, David was until recently the External Examiner for Music at Salford University for an unprecedented five year period and he is a regular feature writer for Brass Band World magazine.
David Lancaster was Musical Director of The Harrogate Band, from 1996-2008 during which time the band climbed from the Third Section to the Championship Section and established a reputation for innovative and imaginative concert performances. Under Davids direction the band commissioned new music from several composers and worked alongside many leading soloists; they recorded four popular CDs and undertook five European tours.
In recent years he has also worked with The Ever Ready Band and Yorkshire Imperial Band in the capacity of Resident Conductor.
David is a member of the NABBC and ABBA and he has adjudicated at several major contests, including the National Finals (2006) and the Yorkshire, North of England and Midlands Regional Championships and Butlins Mineworkers Championships; he regularly writes for Brass Band World magazine.
David’s compositions and arrangements for band are published by Dragon Music Publishing.
On their return to first section competition in January 2010, David led Kippax to a creditable 7th position in a 24-band field at the Butlin’s Mineworkers Contest in Skegness.