This is the myspace page of London based musician Dave Holland. His professional life includes working with commercial music companies to produce film and television music, arranging and composing for recording companies, and performing on piano/rhodes, synths, violin/viola/cello, and trombone.
Please read on for a more complete biography.
Dave Holland (1983-) was born in Northampton, but grew up in the tranquillity of the Gloucestershire countryside. At the age of 5 he started violin lessons, and shortly after keyboard classes at the local Music Academy, and by the age of 11 Dave had added the trombone to his ever-increasing list of instruments.
Whilst at secondary school Dave was awarded several musical awards for his services to the music department, and in his final years, he often performed on violin, trombone, piano, or singing in a chamber choir at school functions. He also started writing his own music for small jazz ensembles, and arranged several pieces for public performances. Outside of school, his musical pursuits continued with nightly excursions around the county to play and rehearse with jazz groups and orchestras, progressing through the ranks as a well-respected musician.
After leaving school, Dave decided to focus even further on his musical aspirations and applied for a place at the Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department (a centre set up for the tutoring of exceptional young musicians) where he was offered a scholarship to learn viola, jazz piano, composition and trombone. Whilst in Birmingham, Dave was also performing in jazz ensembles and classical as a soloist in venues including the Adrian Boult Hall, and CBSO centre. During the rest of his time Dave took four A-levels including music and music technology, and continued playing with local groups and musicians, with most days involving some sort of gig or rehearsal.
In 2002, Dave moved to London where he started a course at Trinity College of Music . Trinity offered a place to continue his musical growth in all areas, including viola -which he learnt under the guidance of Richard Crabtree , and jazz piano, which he studied with Andrea Vicari . The choices of different music styles available in London fascinated a young musician, and very soon Dave had immersed himself in various groups and was writing music all the time. He won several awards including the Margaret Rose Bursary for his musical diversity, and continued to develop his style and technique. Since being in London, Dave has composed for a great number of ensembles, often in totally different styles, and his works have been performed in many prestigious venues including, The Big Chill Festival, St. Martins in The Fields, BBC Radio, Ronnie Scotts, Curso de Matisse in Madrid and on World Tours with various artists including Bad Ass Brass , and the London Myriad Ensemble .
One of Dave's biggest passions is popular music, and he has always been aware of the effects that music has on an audience. In 2005 Dave founded THE BRIDGE , a pop group influenced by his favourite genres. What resulted was a fusion of funk, dance, soul, and rock. The band has played around London for just over 18 months at venues including: The Jazz Cafe, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, and The Clapham Grand, and is recording an album with guest artists from all over the world, including the legendry Tower of Power vocalist Hubert Tubbs.
Since leaving Trinity, Dave has been working in London as a freelance composer and arranger for several clients including UNISON and Reuters, as well as some west end theatre companies.
In 2008 he joined the Solar Music Group, a commercial music studio producing music for film and television. He also played piano for rising pop star Sophie Delila (Universal), and started the band Genuine Article for whom he is Musical Director.
In his spare time Dave enjoys writing pretentious myspace profiles and spending time with his amazing girlfriend Ruth . Please feel free to get in touch to chat about anything, although my knowledge is pretty much limited to music...
If you want to listen to any of my music please feel free to browse the above selection (I have tried to give an overall view of the kinds of things I'm up to) or listen to my band on THE BRIDGE official myspace page .
