David was born in New South Wales and was educated at Trinity Grammar School, Sydney. Between 1981 and 1984, David was Assistant Organist at St James'. In 1984 he graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance and was also the recipient of the Vasanta Scholarship for overseas study.
During his three years in England, he studied with David Sanger and also gained the Associate Diploma in Organ and Choir Master Diploma from the Royal College of Organists. In 1987 David Drury became the first Australian to win the Tournemire Prize for improvisation at the St Alban's International Organ Competition. He has given recitals in Westminster Abbey, St Paul's and Westminster Cathedrals in London, King's College Cambridge and Notre Dame and La Madelaine in Paris.
David has toured Canada and the United States as a recitalist, tutor, accompanist and choral director, and has also given masterclasses and performed on US radio and television. In Australia he has appeared at the Melbourne International Festival of Organ and Harpsichord, the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane Town Halls.
He broadcasts regularly for the ABC and other FM radio stations. He has performed concertos with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra as well as appearing regularly as a continuo player with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra working under conductors such as Sir David Willcocks, Christopher Hogwood, Richard Hickox, Vlademir Verbitsky, Hans Vonk and Edo de Waart.
He has also performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Sydney University Musical Society and the Sydney Philharmonia Choir. David is also the conductor of The David Jones Staff Christmas Choir.
David Drury is not only a brilliant improviser but a fine composer. He has made four solo compact disc recordings as well as four with choirs & orchestras. David is formerly Organist of Christ Church St Laurence, Railway Square and is currently Director of Music at St Paul's College within the University of Sydney.
^ top |
