Musician
From the moment that Dave picked up the trumpet, opportunities to perform for the public began to present themselves. The father of the tuba player in Dave's school band had plenty of music for a polka band (and uniforms!) and, not having even played their instruments a year, the McFarland German Junior Band was booked for parades and community events.
From then on forming or joining bands while in school became a regular thing. As a music major, the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin provided for more playing opportunities,
from playing in "horn" bands, doing covers of Chicago, Blood, Sweat and Tears, and Chase, to performing in the
University of Wisconsin Marching and Varsity Band, to being selected to perform in the Disneyland College Kids of the Kingdom.
Dave has played in opening acts for James Brown, Maynard Ferguson, Neil Sedaka, Woody Herman, Count Basie, and has worked with performers such as Dorothy Hamill of IceCapades, Meredith Macrae, Tom Wopat, Melissa Manchester, Fabian, Bobby Rydell, Pat Travers, The Four Freshmen, Little Anthony and the Imperials (Rock Hall of Fame), along with Elvis Presley's vocal backing groups The Jordanaires and The Sweet Inspirations.
Among the list of celebrities Dave has entertained are Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Don Johnson, Jimmy Page, and Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush. Playing at venues such as the House of Blues at Downtown Disney,
From 2006 to 2011 Dave worked with former Miles Davis sideman and 2 time Grammy award nominee Sam Rivers and the Rivbea Orchestra, performing in New York City at tribute concerts at the 2006 Vision Festival at the Angel Orensanz Center, at Columbia University 2007, and on recordings with the Rivbea Orch. CD Trilogy on Mosaic Records. Truly an original American Jazz Master, Sam would always end his concerts and admonish the crowd with the phrase:
"Tell them what they missed!"
In 1994, 2012, 2016, and 2019 Dave was invited to return to his alma mater and perform as a guest soloist with the University of Wisconsin Varsity band. For 3 nights every April, averaging an attendance of 10,000 each night, the 300+ member UW Varsity Band puts on a show that rivals most arena and stadium rock concerts. Dave performed as a student at the first concert in 1975 and it's a great honor and privilege to reprise that performance with this great ensemble. On Wisconsin!!!
Since 1982 Dave has been entertaining millions of visitors at Disney theme parks and resorts. As an original member of Future Corps at EPCOT Dave was a featured soloist at the 1983 DCI in Miami. With the Future World Brass, Dave was seen in multiple Disney shows and parades.
Dave has arranged and composed for many of the professional performing ensembles at Disney and he can currently be seen playing trumpet with the Magic Kingdom's flagship group the Main Street Philharmonic Band at Walt Disney World, Florida.
