David Bell was a Silver Medallist at the Guildhall School of Music and completed his organ studies with Ralph Downes and Dr Osborne Peasgood. Since then, in a long career as organist, he has performed at concerts in most of the principal venues in Europe, North America (principally on the eastern seaboard, including Carnegie Hall in New York), South America, together with several tours to Japan and Australia.
For fifteen years, he was organist to world−class conductor Herbert von Karajan, and, under his direction, performed on a regular basis with the highly prestigious Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Other conductors he has played under include Sir Georg Solti, Klaus Tennstedt, Kurt Masur, Vernon Handley, Sir Adrian Boult and Franz Welser Most, Georges Pretre and Rostropovich (Tchaikovsky Manfred Symphony). He has also worked on opera productions in Rome, Paris, Vienna and Madrid and Milan.
Early in his career, organ-builder Henry Willis brought him into contact with some of the finest organs in the country. In this connection he gave several demonstration recitals at Westminster Cathedral and St. Paul’s Cathedral. His numerous recital locations since have included five public recitals at St. Paul’s, and other recital venues include Liverpool Anglican Cathedral (twice) and Westminster Abbey.
Among other London venues, he has had a long association with the grand organ in the Royal Albert Hall, on which he has played for a variety of concerts for over thirty years.
David held the Office of Master of this Guild for a distinguished period of twenty years.