He was studying at Oakham School at the time and enjoyed learning how to play the clarinet.

David has since become proficient at the piano, the saxophone and the guitar, he plays in and manages groups and he runs the county's only music agency.

DG Music, which supplies professional musicians and bands for private bookings and public performances, operates from his home in Whissendine and is a real labour of love for David.

He said: "When I started learning the clarinet at school I just loved playing it. I enjoyed being involved in groups and I liked the social side of it. Once you get a love for music it never goes away."

David has played in countless groups over the years and his network of contacts inspired him to set up the business five years ago.

He seems to have found a real niche in the market, offering specialist advice to people looking for a musical back-up to weddings, birthday parties, festivals, balls and other functions.

David recalled: "It was all borne out of me helping pick musicians for special events and I suddenly thought one day 'hang on a minute, I could really develop this and run it as a business'.

"I was teaching at the time as well but eventually I found I was trying to keep too many balls in the air at once and I decided to concentrate on the business."

He runs it all from the office of his home in Main Street and employs four people on a part-time basis. Customers come in via his website or by word of mouth.

"I've got a background in classical music, jazz and rock and people can choose from hundreds of musicians," said David.

"I get a buzz out of giving people really good musicians for their events. I get excited by good music and I want other people to be excited as well.

"I got one recently where someone said they hadn't really got a budget for a decent band for a wedding and yet they spent hundreds of pounds on flowers. I'm sure the guests would remember the music more than the flowers."

David enjoys nurturing young talent and new bands. He currently manages a range of different groups – the rockabilly band Houndogs, indies cover band The Atlantics and El Pussycat, who perform Jamaican ska music.

His company provides live music to a host of venues in Rutland, such as the Merry Monk pub and Nick's restaurant in Oakham, the Noel Arms at Whitwell, Don Paddy's in Uppingham, the Periwig in Stamford and local art galleries.

David's first love, of course, is performing. He plays jazz standards with Jane Oliver in the band Blue Juice and is one of nine saxophonists who make up Sax Assault. Here he rubs shoulders with two superstars – John Helliwell of Supertramp and Simon Willis-Croft of Duran Duran.

"It can be quite hectic playing gigs all over the country and sometimes abroad," said David. "Last week for example I was playing with Sex Assault in Aberdeen one day, then at Burghley House with my group the Jazz Rats and then the next day I was at London Zoo playing jewish music at a barmitzvah with a 120-piece orchestra."

David occasionally performs at more solemn occasions. He played alongside his musician brother Frazer at their father's funeral in Oakham earlier this year.

"It was difficult but music is part of me and I didn't want to regret not doing it," he recalled. "It was only a short piece but we got through it and we were glad we did it.

"I remember playing a gig at a memorial dinner for an American man who had died. His friend asked me to play 'I left my heart in San Francisco' and after I finished he just melted and the tears started flowing."

David was born in Scotland but his family moved to this area when he was five. He attended Oakham School between 1981 and 1989. That was, of course, where his love of music developed. David was a member of a band called Off the Cuff, which won a prestigious award at the first Stamford rock, pop and jazz awards in 1986.

He went on to study at Manchester University and the Royal Northern College of Music. He studied the saxophone and played in the college's big band and orchestra, including a performance at The Proms at the Albert Hall in London.

David returned to Oakham School to teach – he was head of woodwind for a decade. "It was strange having my ex-teachers as colleagues but it was great to experience the other side of the fence as it were.

"I was taught music there and, I know it sounds like a cliche, but I felt like I was giving something back."

Away from his music, David loves spending time with his family – wife Belinda, who works at the Castle Cottage restaurant in Oakham, and daughters Eva (9), a keen violinist, and six-year-old Minnie.

He is excited about the way his business has developed. David also runs a company called Rutland Events, which organises corporate, private and public events throughout the county. He also finds time to sit on the organisation primed to boost tourism in the county, Discover Rutland.

But his first love will always be music. David added: "I still get that buzz when I am performing in front of an audience and I don't think I will ever lose it."

For more details on David business log on to www.dgmusic.co.uk