David Rudd was born in Portsmouth and attended Portsmouth Citadel Corps from childhood where his interest in music was developed. He is a fifth generation Salvationist, and his grandparents were Salvation Army Officers. His father, Dennis Rudd, was the principal cornet of the Portsmouth Citadel band for some 20 years.

David was given his first cornet by his great uncle at the age of seven and one of his first public solo performances was in a concert chaired by Eric Ball. Graduating through the Young People’s Band, David became a member of Portsmouth Citadel Band, establishing his place as a cornet soloist. During his early years he was influenced by one of the movement’s most revered bandmasters and musical leaders – Harold Nobes. In fact, as a small boy, David could often be seen on the front row of concerts and meetings, imitating the style of this great conductor.

David is qualified as M.A. (education), B.A. in Music and English Literature, and gained diplomas from the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and the London College of Music. He studied trumpet and cornet at the Royal Academy of Music under James Watson, gaining a M.Mus degree and L.R.A.M.

In 1990, David joined the Hendon Corps, later becoming deputy bandmaster and bandmaster of Hendon Salvation Army Band. In 2005, David became the first conductor of the “Virtuosi Brass Band” which premiered the choir / brass band arrangement of Karl Jenkins’ “Mass For Peace – The Armed Man”; a project in which he worked with players of the calibre of David Childs, Owen Farr, Chris Turner and Christopher Deacon.

David is a teacher by profession.

He is the bandmaster at Ascot Brass a non-contesting band https://www.ascotbrass.org.uk/ .  We are featuring David on this week's show in 2010 conducting the Hendon Salvation Army Band.