DavidCRIPPSDavid passed away peacefully aged 78 at his home in Tucson Arizona on June 22, 2024 with his wife, Melissa, at his side.
David was born in Gloucester and started playing the French Horn at the age of 14 at the Crypt School, then joining the National Youth Orchestra of Britain where he played the Mozart 4th Horn Concerto at the Royal Festival Hall under Sir Malcolm Sargent and was presented to HM Queen Mother. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, positions followed with BBC Welsh Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and Hallé Orchestra, performing under Claudio Abbado, Leonard Bernstein, André Previn, Simon Rattle, and John Williams, (soloing on the soundtrack for the first two ‘Star Wars’ films).
From 1997 to 2003, David was resident conductor with the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, then moving to the United States to the Eastman School of Music, then Florida State and Northern Arizona Universities, and conducting local orchestras until his retirement in 2019.
He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Melissa, former wife Phillipa, 4 daughters and 3 grandchildren.
A memorial event will be held in London on Friday November 15th – details from Melissacripps24@gmail.com
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