Hi, I’m Dave Culling, a professional composer and musical director with extensive experience creating and directing music for theatre, film and live performance. I have led music for projects with Birmingham Repertory, Stoke New Vic, Derby LIVE and beyond, and I’ve written scores and orchestrations for adaptations of Treasure Island, Peter Pan, Excalibur, Cranford and Nicholas Nickleby. I’m proficient in turning ideas from scratch into polished scores and backing tracks using tools like Sibelius and Logic Pro X, and I enjoy collaborating closely with directors and producers to deliver memorable musical experiences for audiences. As a multi-instrumentalist, I perform on piano, guitar, drums and bass to a high standard, and I thrive in collaborative environments. I’m always eager to take on new projects with a friendly, solution-oriented approach and to contribute creatively across the full spectrum of music production, from composition to performance to post-production.

Dave Culling

PRO

Hi, I’m Dave Culling, a professional composer and musical director with extensive experience creating and directing music for theatre, film and live performance. I have led music for projects with Birmingham Repertory, Stoke New Vic, Derby LIVE and beyond, and I’ve written scores and orchestrations for adaptations of Treasure Island, Peter Pan, Excalibur, Cranford and Nicholas Nickleby. I’m proficient in turning ideas from scratch into polished scores and backing tracks using tools like Sibelius and Logic Pro X, and I enjoy collaborating closely with directors and producers to deliver memorable musical experiences for audiences. As a multi-instrumentalist, I perform on piano, guitar, drums and bass to a high standard, and I thrive in collaborative environments. I’m always eager to take on new projects with a friendly, solution-oriented approach and to contribute creatively across the full spectrum of music production, from composition to performance to post-production.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Dave Culling, a professional composer and musical director with extensive experience creating and directing music for theatre, film and live performance. I have led music for projects with Birmingham Repertory, Stoke New Vic, Derby LIVE and beyond, and I’ve written scores and orchestrations for adaptations of Treasure Island, Peter Pan, Excalibur, Cranford and Nicholas Nickleby. I’m proficient in turning ideas from scratch into polished scores and backing tracks using tools like Sibelius and Logic Pro X, and I enjoy collaborating closely with directors and producers to deliver memorable musical experiences for audiences.

As a multi-instrumentalist, I perform on piano, guitar, drums and bass to a high standard, and I thrive in collaborative environments. I’m always eager to take on new projects with a friendly, solution-oriented approach and to contribute creatively across the full spectrum of music production, from composition to performance to post-production.

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Work Experience

Music Supervisor/Orchestrator at Little Wolf Entertainment
February 3, 2020 - Present
Music Supervisor for panto seasons - Orchestrating music, sourcing musicians, making tracks in Logic Pro, band parts, lyric writing etc.
Music Supervisor/Orchestrator at Lichfield Garrick (Evolution Pantomimes)
April 5, 2021 - December 22, 2023
Music Supervisor for panto seasons - Orchestrating music, sourcing musicians, making tracks in Logic Pro, band parts, lyric writing etc.
Musical Director at Christmas On Mistletoe Farm (Entertainment One; Mirrorball Films; Netflix)
January 1, 2022 - Present
Musical Director for the 2022 production; directed music and arrangements, collaborated with Debbie Isitt, and oversaw the musical aspects of the project. Used Sibelius for vocal and band arrangements and Logic Pro X for backing tracks.
Musical Director at Little Wolf Entertainment
January 1, 2017 - Present
MD for a variety of pantomimes; conducted and arranged music for multiple shows and productions over several years.
Musical Director at Nativity Rocks! (Mirrorball Films / Entertainment One)
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
Musical Director for Nativity Rocks! (2018); delivered music direction and arrangements for the film’s production; collaborated with director Debbie Isitt.
Musical Director at Evolution Productions
January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2018
MD for pantomimes produced 2013–2018, overseeing music direction, arrangements and rehearsals.
Musical Director at Various venues (Birmingham Repertory, Stoke New Vic, Derby LIVE, and other theatres)
January 1, 2013 - Present
MD for numerous shows across multiple venues; created vocal and instrumental arrangements, directed musicians, and produced backing tracks; ongoing work from 2013 to present.

Education

BA Hons Dramatic Arts at Bretton Hall
September 3, 1993 - July 1, 1996

Qualifications

BA Hons Dramatic Arts
September 3, 1993 - July 1, 1996

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Software & Internet, Travel & Hospitality, Education
    paper Mash Up for Finale of Nativity Rocks!
    Mash Up for Finale of Nativity Rocks! arranged by Dave Culling and seen in the last section of the smash film.
    paper Made You Look - made for Little Wolf Entertainment
    Made You Look - made for Little Wolf Entertainment for performance in Derby Arena for Panto season 2023.
    paper Arrangement for Netflix film - Christmas On Mistletoe Farm
    I arranged this song for the carol singers in this Netflix Film.
    uniE603 Dice Tower Christmas
    This was bespoke made for the Youtube channel - the Dice Tower for their Christmas countdown.