David Arch

David Arch, better known as Dave Arch, is a pianist, conductor, arranger and composer with a prolific career covering albums, films and commercials, television and live performances. He is best known for his role as Musical Director and arranger for BBC Television’s BAFTA-winning Strictly Come Dancing.

Early life

Arch grew up in Sonning Common, near Henley-on-Thames, South Oxfordshire and attended Chiltern Edge School and King James College, Henley-on-Thames, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Career

Television career

Arch is best known for his role as Musical Director and arranger for BBC Television's Strictly Come Dancing,[1] joining in 2006 after working as Musical Director on two series of Strictly Dance Fever, and Just the Two of Us.[2] He was also Musical Director for recent productions of the Royal Variety Performance for ITV, including in 2012, the hundredth anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall,[3] and for ITV's series Stepping Out (UK TV series)[4] and Popstar to Operastar.[5]

In 2013 Arch was musical director and band leader for the television special When Miranda Met Bruce.[6]

In 2015 he was the musical director and band leader for the Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits special, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest. That same year, he was the chairperson of the United Kingdom's national jury for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.

Compositions

Arch was commissioned to produce the original themes and stings for the British television broadcaster GMTV, broadcast between 1993 and 2010. Subsequent themes were all based on his original melody.

In 1986 Arch recorded a series of albums on red vinyl for UK-based Cavendish Music Library, which also featured Ray Russell on guitar. In 2005 Arch played keyboards for the Greg Lake Band.[7]

In October 2016 Arch released his debut album Coming Home, consisting of his own compositions and including collaborations with his son, his father and "Strictly" colleague singer Tommy Blaize. The album was recorded and co-produced by Haydn Bendall at Abbey Road, Air, Rak and Strongroom studios.[8]

References
  1. "The Band". Strictly Come Dancing Band. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  2. "David Arch Interview". RTÉ Entertainment. Raidió Teilifís Éirean. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  3. "Royal Variety Performance". Musical Director. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  4. "Strictly Dance Fever". Musical Director. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  5. "Popstar to Operastar". Musical Director. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  6. "When Miranda met Bruce". Musical Director. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  7. "David Arch Interview". The Official Greg Lake Web Site. 2005. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  8. https://www.dave-arch.com/album/coming-home/
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