David Wilkins

David Wilkins was born in Coventry in the year of the Suez crisis and the Hungarian uprising. He studied English and Linguistics at the universities of Lancaster and Exeter but spent a lot of his time learning how to conduct and how not to compose. He is the author of a young-person's biography of Leonard Bernstein and has a particular interest in American music and an obsession with Astor Piazzolla. Bach, Schubert and Mahler are his listening-passions and the whole business of conductors and interpretation his prevailing search.

He has written extensively for the BBC Music Magazine and contributed to many publications including the Independent newspaper. He writes concert programme notes for a variety of orchestras and gives pre-concert talks for the CBSO at Symphony Hall in Birmingham. His professional life has found him living and teaching in Italy, Spain and Portugal for many years.

He is now based in Eastbourne where, amongst other diversions, he directs language courses and encourages the internationalisation of musical exploration amongst young people.