The Band
Musical DirectorDavid Beer
David is Musical Supervisor of all UK productions of Fame, and has been involved with that show since he was Musical Director of its first West End run in 1995. He was also Musical Supervisor of Song of Singapore at Chichester Festival Theatre at the Mayfair Theatre and tours of A Tribute To Patsy Cline, The Pirates of Penzance and Kiss Me, Kate. In the West End he has been Musical Director of Cats, Guys and Dolls, Me and My Girl, The Rink, I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change and Bernadette and on tour: Hot Stuff, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Scrooge, Aspects of Love, Sweeney Todd, An Evening With Gary Wilmot and Barnum. In regional theatres around the country, he has specialised in rock shows such as The Rocky Horror Show, Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, Tommy and Hot Stuff. David met Brian May while touring as Musical Director of Hello, Dolly! in 2008 with Brian’s wife Anita Dobson, and was delighted when Brian asked him to be Musical Director of the first UK tour of We Will Rock You. David’s personal favourite career highlights are: in 1990, being Musical Associate on the biggest rock event ever staged - Roger Waters’ presentation of Pink Floyd’s The Wall in Berlin; playing piano for singer Ruby Turner at a Royal Gala; and performing extracts from Cats at Buckingham Palace for the Duke of Edinburgh. As Director of Music at the BRIT School for Performing Arts 2000–2003, he taught Katie Melua, Leona Lewis, Luke Pritchard and two other members of the Kooks among other stars of the future. He was subsequently Head of Performance at the Academy of Contemporary Music where he also lectured in composition and arrangement and took vocal classes. He has also taught, and been MD of shows, at Arts Educational Schools, Guildhall, Guildford Conservatoire, and RADA. He is an examiner for London College of Music, specialising in musical theatre and pop vocals examinations (and has just been awarded an FLCM for Professional Achievement) and is a specialist music mentor for the rock and pop entries in Music for Youth national music festivals. Recording work includes: conducting Scrooge for Radio 2; the soundtracks to The Snow Queen and Revenge of the Snow Queen; cast albums of Fame, The Rink and Song of Singapore; and a featured piano solo on Sarah Brightman’s album The Ones That Got Away. TV appearances include: the Olivier Awards and LWT’s Night of 100 Stars with Gary Wilmot. When not performing, David is busy producing musical arrangements for many artistes and shows around the world.