David Tibbitts

Jazz BMus (Hons)

David has always been passionate about music; from the moment he started playing the trumpet at ten years old. He came to Birmingham for its Jazz scene and thrived at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Now, David is Head of Brass and Music Outreach at a leading independent school, inspiring a new generation of musicians. 

“Growing up, I pursued every opportunity to develop my craft, and I was able to win a very coveted music scholarship at Warwick School and landed a place in the Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra, which gave me the foundation I needed.

In 2011, I gained a place at the Royal Birmingham Junior Conservatoire to study Jazz also through a scholarship and studied under the leading experts Percy Pursglove and Mike Williams. The following year, I won a place in the distinguished National Youth Jazz Collective summer school and started building up my reputation as a professional freelance musician before commencing my BMus Hons degree.

When it came to choosing a university, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) was the obvious choice. The Birmingham jazz scene was already my second home and having spoken to my strong network of industry contacts, all of which had many positive experiences at RBC, I knew RBC was the place to be.

Studying at RBC wasn’t just about learning for me, it was the chance I had to develop a solid foundation for myself as a performing musician and gain the necessary skillset needed to feel confident on the national stage. It was also insightful, as I got the chance to learn and immerse myself in the different areas of the music industry.

My time at RBC was nothing short of excellent. I had the chance to perform with UK’s biggest Folk Ensemble during their annual UK tour along with prestigious festivals including Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, Shambala and Towersey. I performed with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, worked with industry legends like Dave Holland, Maria Schneider, Norma Winstone, Jeremy Pelt, Elliot Mason and Mark Turner, and even gained a place in the Conservatoire Jazz Orchestra and Composers Big Band during my first year of study.

Since finishing at RBC, I have been touring and travelling across the UK and Europe, performing at various prestigious events and festivals and with iconic artists. One of the best moments was being featured as a soloist live on BBC 2, performing in the presence of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, which was a huge honour. I have also appeared at the world-renowned Glastonbury Festival on several occasions, and I’ve even had the opportunity to tour with the England Cricket Team, which was a lot of fun.

However, after this exciting journey, constantly being on the move, I started to appreciate that music wasn’t just about performance; it’s about giving back, providing young people with musical opportunities which they may not ordinarily have access to and ultimately inspire the next generation. Today, as Head of Brass and Music Outreach at Warwick School (Warwick Independent Schools Foundation), I oversee 134 brass students, conduct numerous ensembles, organise Brass extravaganzas and lead outreach programs that bring music education to the wider community of all age groups.

I have been very fortunate over the years to experience numerous proud moments and achievements both as a freelance musician and educator. Naturally, as a teacher, I can’t help but take great pride in my students’ musical journeys and assisting them to chase a music career is hugely rewarding.

There have been many students who have gone on to gain scholarship entries to the likes of Oxbridge and various conservatoires. I know firsthand how transformative music can be, and I am fulfilled knowing that I am passing that on to the next generation.

The music industry is fast-paced, and artists often feel the pressure to deliver and maintain such high expectations but the biggest lesson I learned at RBC was to try to be the best version of yourself. Every day is somewhat of a challenge, but what is important is I keep going each day and do my best to my full potential.

My advice to aspiring musicians is to find your unique voice and language. The world’s best musicians stand out from the crowd and find ways of expressing themselves and their beautiful stories through their instruments and the music they create with them. Also, say yes to gigs, to collaborations, to performing. Honestly, the music world is such a small place, and opportunities arise when you least expect them to.”