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David Wong
David Wong is the principal clarinetist in the Band of the Grenadier Guards. This band of H.M. the Queen’s Household Division is stationed in central London to provide music for ceremonies such as the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, and the Sovereign’s birthday parade (Trooping the Colour), and for official functions such as visits of foreign heads of state. Before becoming the first musician from Hong Kong to join the band in 2014, he attended the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall where he was awarded the Cousin’s Silver Medal and the Cassel’s Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians, being adjudicated best musician of the course intake.
Beside his ceremonial duties, David enjoys performing in concerts whenever possible. He has twice been featured as a soloist in the Household Division’s annual “Scarlet and Gold” concert. He is also proud to have been selected as a representative of the army in the Drumhead ceremony in the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Prior to his training at Kneller Hall, David Wong was educated at the Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong, the Conservatoire National de Nice, France, and the Royal College of Music in London. While studying in France, he was awarded the Premier Prix de Clarinette. In London, studying under Janet Hilton, he won the Woodwind Concerto Competition in two consecutive years. After graduating with a Master of Music degree in 2008, he joined the London Southbank Sinfonia as co-principal clarinetist. He received supportive reviews, including ‘playing with real artistry’ in the Magazine of the Clarinet & Saxophone Society of Great Britain for his performance of Jean Francaix’s Clarinet Concerto.
David has performed under the baton of such internationally renowned conductors as Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Neville Marriner, Bernard Haitink, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Barry Wordsworth. He has performed in many of London’s most prestigious concert venues and theatres, including the Royal Albert Hall, Barbican Centre, Royal Opera House, National Theatre, Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall and St John’s, Smith Square.