David Ponsford’s career as an organist began at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was a Greenwood Exhibitioner during which time he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.
Subsequently, he studied organ with Peter Hurford, Lionel Rogg and Piet Kee, and harpsichord with Kenneth Gilbert and Gustav Leonhardt.
After some years as Assistant Organist at Wells Cathedral, and as Conductor of Cheltenham Bach Choir, he studied with the international Bach scholar Peter Williams, being awarded a PhD in French Baroque organ music. For 17 years he was Associate Lecturer at Cardiff University, where he directed courses in Performance Practice and Notation & Editing. During his time at Cardiff, he was conductor of the University Chamber Orchestra and the University Choir. He has also taught organ and harpsichord at Bristol University, Bath Spa University, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and Wells Cathedral School.
Since 2004 he has been invited to present a series of courses on Baroque music at Madingley Hall, University of Cambridge, and he regularly teaches on courses run by the Royal College of Organists. In recent years David has given organ recitals in France, Germany, Poland, India, Singapore, Canada and the USA, in addition to the UK, selecting his repertoire to suit the style of particular organs. As an organ and harpsichord continuo player he has played with many period instrument ensembles and chamber orchestras
David’s publications include the book French Organ Music in the Reign of Louis XIV (Cambridge University Press, 2011; paperback edition, 2016). Editions include Nicolas de Grigny’s Premier livre d’orgue (Ut Orpheus, 2019), Biber’s Mystery Sonatas (Ut Orpheus, Bologna, 2007), and Bach’s Organ Sonatas arranged for two harpsichords (Nimbus Music Publishing, 2020). Following publication of his book, he was invited to record a series of CDs for Nimbus Records of French Baroque organ repertoire played on historic French instruments, to great critical acclaim. He owns a collection of harpsichords on which he has made many solo as well as chamber music recordings, such as Parthenia (1612) and J. S. Bach’s complete violin sonatas with Jacqueline Ross for ASV.
David also performs with David Hill on two harpsichords, playing and recording arrangements of Bach trio sonatas and Vivaldi concertos.