Nine Daves, One Powerful Message: A Brass Performance for Prostate Cancer Awareness
- Andrew
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Sometimes music can say what words cannot. Earlier this year, I had the privilege of helping bring a very special musical project to life with my friend, the talented trumpet player Dave Land. What began as a creative idea for a video soon became something far more meaningful: a piece dedicated to raising awareness of prostate cancer and encouraging men to take the simple PSA test that could save their lives.
Dave is one of those musicians whose career reads like a highlight reel of the music world. He began playing trumpet in the Band of HM Coldstream Guards, before moving into an extraordinary freelance career. Over the years he has performed in some of the greatest West End shows, including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express, Annie Get Your Gun, and Movin’ Out, and has recorded with artists such as Katrina and the Waves, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and Shirley Bassey.
His playing can also be heard on numerous film soundtracks, including Walt Disney’s Herbie Fully Loaded, Mr Bean, Look Who’s Talking, and more recently Paddington in Peru. Beyond that, his recordings have featured across a wide range of television programmes, films, documentaries, and adverts — from Jamie Oliver and A Place in the Sun to campaigns for brands such as Tropicana, Halifax, Shredded Wheat, and Budweiser. Over the years he has also enjoyed chart success with artists including Nik Kershaw, Leo Sayer, Breathe, Tracey Ullman, and of course Katrina & the Waves.
Dave has spent over 25 years working in London’s West End and has toured worldwide with an incredible list of artists, including The Four Tops, the original Elvis Presley TCB Band, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Shirley Bassey, Ben E. King, The Supremes, Suzi Quatro, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Deniece Williams, and Mari Wilson & The New Wilsations. His experience and musicianship are truly remarkable.
But this project wasn’t about showcasing a career — it was something much more personal.
In 2021, Dave was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Thankfully, he is now under the care of a dedicated consultant and continues with ongoing treatment and monitoring. Like many people in that position, the experience brought a renewed sense of perspective and a desire to encourage others not to overlook their health.
The idea for this video took on even greater significance following the passing of Dave’s friend, Chris Clarke. We filmed on 4th February 2026 — the same day as Chris’s funeral — in the beautiful Barbirolli Hall at Norwich Cathedral. The setting, combined with the timing, gave the project a quiet sense of purpose. Rather than focusing on loss, Dave wanted to create something uplifting — something that might gently encourage others to take that small but vital step of getting checked.
For the music, Dave arranged a stunning brass version of a vocal score O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen. Its calm, reflective beauty felt perfectly suited to both the space and the message behind the project. And in true Dave fashion, he didn’t just perform the piece — he performed all nine brass parts himself.
Each part was filmed separately, with the performances carefully combined so that nine versions of Dave appear onscreen together as a complete ensemble. The result is both visually striking and musically powerful — a unique performance that feels far greater than the sum of its parts.
Filming in Barbirolli Hall was a special experience in itself. The atmosphere throughout the day was calm, focused, and quietly meaningful, allowing the music and the message to sit at the heart of everything we were creating.
At its core, the message behind this video is simple.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men, yet early detection can make a huge difference. The PSA test is quick, straightforward, and could potentially save lives.
By sharing this performance and his story, Dave hopes to encourage more men to have that conversation with their doctor and consider getting tested.
Music has always had the power to bring people together, to comfort, and to inspire action. This project is Dave’s way of doing exactly that — using his extraordinary talent to create something positive, meaningful, and potentially life-saving.
Below you can watch the finished performance. I hope you enjoy the music, appreciate Dave’s remarkable musicianship, and most importantly, take a moment to reflect on the message behind it.
If this video encourages even one person to get checked, it will have done exactly what Dave hoped it would do.
Written by: Andrew Winship
ARTS Theatre School - Director
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