Growing up in rural Cornwall, David Hockings spent his childhood playing percussion in the Salvation Army band.



He's now the principal percussionist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and also works with other leading orchestras in the UK.



After studying at the RCM, David Hockings pursued a busy freelance career initially becoming first extra for the LSO and then the BBC in addition to playing timpani and percussion with all the major UK orchestras and ensembles. He joined the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1991 and has been Principal Percussion since 1994.



David Hockings has also been Principal Percussion of the London Sinfonietta since 1995 and has worked extensively with the Sinfonietta’s education department, including a residency in Japan.



David Hockings has also organised training for members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. He has run many percussion based workshops for music organisations and festivals and has coached the percussion sections of many of the UK's youth orchestras.