David Wright

David Wright has been conductor of the Godalming Youth Orchestra since 1996.

David Wright was born in Glasgow and studied trumpet, conducting and singing in Edinburgh. He taught at Daniel Stewart's and Melville College, and fulfilled conducting and playing engagements with many important orchestras and opera companies. In 1979 he was a finalist in the Young Conductors’ Competition organised by the National Association of Brass Band Conductors. In 1985 he was the only British competitor selected to take part in the International Conductors' Competition at the Wereld Muziek Concours in Kerkrade, Netherlands. In 1988 he moved south to become Head of Brass at Charterhouse.

Since 1988 David has been the Music Director of the prize winning Godalming Band. From 1993 to 1998, he was Musical Director of Opera Omnibus. In addition he is the guest conductor of the Mozart Wind Ensemble and conductor of the Charterhouse Christmas Music Course.

David has a particular reputation for theatre work (both opera and musicals) and was most recently Musical Director of the highly acclaimed production of Les Miserables at the Ben Travers Theatre. In May 2000 he conducted the Velvet Jacket production of Oklahoma! which established the Guinness World Record for the fastest theatrical production. Most recently he has conducted some of the music for the soundtrack of the forthcoming BBC film Shooting Dogs.

From 2000 to 2004 David was joint Director of the Ben Travers Theatre, during which time he directed (as well as conducted) productions of Igor Stravinsky's The Soldier’s Tale and Joseph Horovitz's one act opera Gentleman's Island.

David also conducts the Godalming Band