Lt Col David Barringer MBE was born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire in 1973. His musical upbringing was in Brass Bands, playing with some of the UK's top Bands and being Junior Slow Melody Champion of Great Britain for two years in succession.
David joined the Army in September 1989 and after basic training studied at the Army Junior School of Music, Pirbright. He subsequently attended the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. He joined the Coldstream Guards Band in January 1993 and toured all over the World with them, including a three-month coast to coast tour of the United States and Canada.
During his time with the band he developed an interest in brass band conducting and spent 2 years as Resident Conductor of the Flowers Brass Band. After winning the London heat of the 1998 Young Conductor of the Year Competition, he went on to be runner up at the National final.
He then went on to represent Great Britain at the inaugural European Conductor of the Year competition in the year 2000.
He was selected for the prestigious Student Bandmaster course at Kneller Hall in the summer of 2000 and on completion of the course was awarded a Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree.
On promotion to Warrant Officer Class One in July 2003, he took up the position of Bandmaster to the Lt Div Band and in 2005 he was posted to the AGC Band.
In January 2007 he was posted to Headquarters Directorate Corps of Army Music at Kneller Hall and he was commissioned in the Rank of Captain in April 2008. He was appointed as Director of Music, Royal Signals in January 2009 and in February 2012 he was promoted to Acting Major, returning to the Royal Military School of Music.
Following a period away from music in various staff appointments, he became Director of Music at the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland early in 2017. In 2018 he was awarded the MBE and returned to the Household Division as Director of Music Welsh Guards. In November 2019 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and took up appointment as the youngest ever Principal Director of Music Army.
Dave has continued to pursue his interest in Brass Bands throughout his career. He was Musical Director of SWT Woodfalls Band, Professional Conductor with Yeovil Town Band and masterminded the resurgence of Bournemouth Concert Brass seeing them qualify for the National Brass Band Championships in 2012.
He has conducted at several major competitions and has made numerous recordings including 'Listen to the Band' broadcasts for BBC Radio 2.
He combined his hobby and his career by forming the British Army Brass Band in 2007. The band received rave reviews, made a recording 'Top Brass' and was ultimately instrumental in the Army establishing 3 full time brass bands.
