About me
Originally from Brisbane, Lieutenant Commander David Coit holds an undergraduate degree in Jazz Performance and two postgraduate qualifications in Music Studies and Education from the Queensland Conservatorium and Griffith University. He is recently a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff Course through the Australian War College and Deakin University.
David joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1998 as a musician, specialising as a lead trumpet player, and has served in both reserve and full-time capacities. During his time as a reservist, David built a distinguished career as a music educator including for Education Queensland and later serving as Head of Performance Music at Sheldon College, where his ensembles won multiple national awards. He also lectured at Queensland University of Technology, directed the Queensland Youth Orchestra Big Band, and conducted at the Beijing Olympic Orchestra in 2008. In 2009, he undertook a sabbatical at Elmhurst University in Chicago, collaborating with Professor Judith Grimes and the Elmhurst University Wind Symphony.
Returning to Defence Music full-time in 2010, David commissioned as a Band Officer in 2013 completing officer training at the Royal Australian Naval College and the ADF Band Officers Course at the Defence Force School of Music. He has held senior appointments including Officer-in-Charge of both full-time Royal Australian Navy Bands in Sydney and Melbourne, and as the Assistant Director of Music–Navy.David has performed internationally at high-profile events for dignitaries and audiences worldwide, both as a civilian and military musician and conductor.
