David Thornton

David Thornton was appointed as principal euphonium of the Black Dyke Band during July 2000.

4barsrest.com, the Internet magazine commented "...it was the position he was destined for……he has made it his own with a series of concert and contest performances that have been invariably breathtaking."

Born in Nottingham in 1978, David began his euphonium lessons at just eight years old and only five years later became the first ever euphonium player to gain a place at Chetham’s School of Music, one of the UK’s most prestigious institutions for specialist musical education.

Since then his success has earned him many awards, such as scholarships from the Countess of Munster Trust and the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe, a hatrick of solo awards at the National Euphonium Conference 1995, 1997 and 1999, first prize at the Verso Il Millenio International Euphonium Competition, but most notably as the International Euphonium Player of the Year 2001.

As a recording artist David has released two solo albums. His debut CD, ‘Three Worlds’, was awarded Solo CD of the Year for 2004 by the British Bandsman magazine. In May 2007 David released his second solo album, ‘Devil’s Duel’. Furthermore, David features as a soloist on fourteen different albums with the Black Dyke Band, including ‘Epic Brass’ and ‘Jubilee Brass’ - live recordings of two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

Considering David’s relatively young age, his achievements in education are also quite remarkable. He tutors at the RNCM, the University of Huddersfield and Chetham's School of Music, as well as holding visiting tutor roles at the Birmingham Conservatoire and the RSAMD. His current and former students already hold principal positions in many leading bands around the UK.

David is regarded as one of the foremost euphonium players and teachers of his generation and is in constant demand as a performer and clinician throughout the world.

David is a Schrieber-Keilwerth York Consultant and Performing Artist, and plays exclusively on York euphoniums.

"David Thornton is that rare kind of musician - a true artist whose qualities transcend the instrument itself. The listener is carried out of normal music-making into the wide open spaces of real enjoyment."
Howard Snell, Conductor, former principal trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra

"....David Thornton displayed all his wares with a sublime piece of euphonium work in the ‘Devil's Duel' which saw him dispense with all the musical challengers that tried to upstage him in battle throughout the piece – you would have had to kill him with a stake through the heart you suspected such was his brilliance, whilst someone may have to check that he hasn't got cloven hooves instead of feet the next time he plays the piece like this. Not even old Beelzebub could better this one suspects."
4barsrest.com