Dave is a graduate of the Faculty of Music, University of Western Ontario (Music Ed.) and a student of Charles Dalkert, James Ford and Paul Green. After graduation he attended Althouse College where he studied with James White. He began his teaching career in September, 1974-99 as Department Head at Erin District High School and continued as Department Head at Guelph Collegiate from 2000 until his retiremnet in 2006.

Dave has a distinguished career as a performer, conductor and clinician. He has performed with Ice Capades (International), the Miss Octoberfest Pagaent (CTV), local stage and musical production companies, and has freelanced in numerous small and big band groups and other commercial endeavours. Brassroots (London), Slide by Slide (Guelph) and Windjammers (Kitchener) have afforded Dave a challenging and rewarding opportunity to continue performing as well as his conducting assignments. He was the founding Musical Director of the Wellington Winds, Musical Director of the Galt Kiltie Band, is the current Music Director of the Kitchener Musical Society Band and has been an award winning music director of several musical productions with Royal City Musical Productions (Guelph) and Musicfest Canada.