David performs worldwide and is Artistic Director of St Albans International Organ Festival
David was Organ Scholar at Pembroke College Oxford before continuing his organ studies in Paris with Marie-Claire Alain and Susan Landale at the Conservatoire de Rueil-Malmaison, where he won a 'premier prix a l’unanimité avec les félicitations du jury', and later with distinguished Czech composer Petr Eben.
David has appeared in recitals and concertos at major festivals worldwide, including the Bicentennial Festival of Sydney and the international festivals of Hong Kong, New Zealand and Tokyo, among many others. For 18 years, he gave annual masterclasses and recitals at the Dartington International Summer School & Festival.
He made his debut at the BBC Proms in 1990 with a solo recital that included a Proms commission from Diana Burrell, Arched Forms with Bells. At the BBC Proms 2000, he played in the UK premiere of Hans Werner Henze’s Symphony No 9 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and in the BBC Proms 2009 he gave his second solo recital of works by Elgar and Peter Dickinson. Royal Festival Hall recitals include his debut in 1986, followed by a recital in the 50th-anniversary recital series, which included the premiere of Stephen Montague’s Toccare Incandescent commissioned by the Southbank Centre. In 2016, his recitals included the world premiere of Chaconne by Sally Beamish.
Throughout his career, David has worked closely with many composers across a wide range of styles, including Mauricio Kagel, Diana Burrell, Lyell Cresswell, Peter Dickinson, Jonathan Dove, Paul Patterson, Giles Swayne and Per Nørgård. In 1998, he gave the New Zealand premiere of Olivier Messiaen’s Livre du Saint Sacrement: ‘a performance of spellbinding authority … Titterington giving us a performance of staggering intensity and brilliance’ (The Dominion, Wellington).
In performance, he has worked with many distinguished soloists and orchestras, including the City of London Sinfonia, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Berliner Symphoniker, La Camerata of Athens, BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
David has been awarded numerous honours and awards, which include a Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists and a Doctorate and Honorary Professorship by the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest. Honorary doctorates have also been conferred by the Universities of Huddersfield and Bolton. David is an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music and in 2016 was elected Fellow Commoner of Sidney Sussex College Cambridge. In 2018, he was conferred an Honorary Fellowship by King’s College London.