Mark David was born in Cornwall and started playing the cornet at the age of nine. He studied trumpet with John Wilbraham at the Birmingham School of Music and was appointed principal trumpet of the Philharmonia Orchestra in 1992, having previously held that position in Opera North and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

In the past few years, Mark's solo performances with the Philharmonia have included Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No 2 with András Schiff and the Haydn Trumpet Concerto with Ashkenazy at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall and private concerts for members of the royal family at Highgrove and Buckingham Palace. He also plays regularly with the English Brass Ensemble, London Sinfonietta and The Nash Ensemble with whom he has recorded Saint-Saëns' Septet in E flat major, Op 65.

Mark was invited to perform with The World Orchestra for Peace under Valery Gergiev which brings together principal players from all over the world. He can be heard on numerous film and television scores and teaches at the Royal Academy of Music.