David Reid is a versatile and sought-after low brass musician, active in a wide variety of musical genres on alto, tenor, bass, and contrabass trombones as well as tuba and euphonium. Following a musically active youthful period as a pianist and brass band cornetist, he turned his attention to the trombone in 1980, joining the Calgary Philharmonic in 1984 where he served for 18 seasons as Assistant Principal (tenor) Trombonist prior to winning the Principal Bass Trombone position in 2002. From 2004 to 2006, he took a leave of absence, returning to his native city of St. John’s to serve as Professor of Low Brass at Memorial University of Newfoundland. While in St. John’s, he was featured in recital on CBC Radio’s Musicraft series, and in a concerto performance with the Newfoundland Symphony.
Studies in music include the completion of performance diplomas (A.T.C.L. and L.T.C.L) in piano and cornet from Trinity College, London while still in his teens. He later attended Memorial University, University of Toronto, and Indiana University, where he completed a master’s degree in trombone performance. Principal teachers during his trombone studies were Gordon Sweeney, Edwin Anderson, and M. Dee Stewart. Since establishing his career in Calgary, he has participated in dozens of recordings in various genres, including many with the Calgary Phil, the critically acclaimed album by Albertasaurus Tuba Quartet, and sessions on the albums of stylistically diverse artists such as Jann Arden, Steve Pineo, Tim Tamashiro, and Heather Blush.
As a jazz musician, Reid can occasionally be heard improvising solo spots at Calgary Phil ‘Pops”’ shows and was featured front of stage with guest artist Chantal Kreviazuk. He has been a member of Calgary’s Prime Time Big Band since 2001, a frequent guest performer and clinician at jazz workshops in and around the Calgary area, and when time permits, a club date player in small group settings. For 15 years, he was lead trombonist with the Grandstand Orchestra of the Calgary Stampede.
Freelance career highlights include playing first trombone in the soundtracks for the Emmy Award-winning music featured in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, a Country Music Television production, Christmas at the Grand (also released on CD), and the annual Christmas shows with Steve Pineo, playing to sold-out houses at the Ironwood Stage and Grill for the past 15 years (pandemic excluded). He is a ‘first call’ player for travelling professional Music Theatre productions on various low brass instruments, and has also worked extensively for Theatre Calgary in local musical productions.
Reid is married to Calgary Phil bassist Trish Bereti Reid. Aside from their musical lives and Dave’s occasional escapes from day-to-day life to ski in the Rockies, they’re kept busy with their teenaged son and daughter, and three amazing cats, all of whom enjoy travelling as often as possible to their waterfront summer homes in Saskatchewan and Newfoundland.