David Arch
{{short description|British arranger and composer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dave Arch
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = David Arch
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|10|25|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, U.K.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = British
| other_names =
| occupation = {{hlist|Conductor|composer|director of music}}
| years_active =
| known_for = Strictly Come Dancing
| notable_works =
| father = Gwyn Arch
| alma_mater = Guildhall School of Music and Drama
| website = {{URL|dave-arch.com/}}
}}
David Arch, better known as Dave Arch (born 25 October 1962, in Henley-on-Thames), is a British pianist, conductor, arranger and composer with a career covering albums, films and commercials, television and live performances. Since 2006, he is Musical Director and arranger for BBC Television's Strictly Come Dancing.
Early life
Arch's father was Gwyn Arch, a composer and choral director. Arch was born on 25 October 1962, in Henley-on-Thames{{Cite web |date=1 February 2024 |title=Who is Dave Arch, the conductor for BBC's Strictly Come Dancing? |url=https://www.classical-music.com/features/artists/who-is-dave-arch-strictly |access-date=25 August 2024 |website=www.classical-music.com |language=en}} and grew up in nearby Sonning Common, South Oxfordshire. He attended Chiltern Edge School and King James College, Henley-on-Thames,{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.{{cite web |title=Dave Arch |url=https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/about_the_school/alumni/people_who_studied_at_guildhall/music_alumni_include/dave_arch/ |website=Guildhall School of Music & Drama |access-date=16 October 2021}} He was a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
Career
=Television career=
Arch is best known for his role as Musical Director and arranger for BBC Television's Strictly Come Dancing,{{cite web |url=http://www.strictlycomedancingband.com/band.html |title=The Band|work=Strictly Come Dancing Band|accessdate=7 November 2009}} joining in 2006 after working as Musical Director on two series of Strictly Dance Fever, and Just the Two of Us.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/1113/archd.html
|title=David Arch Interview |date=13 November 2008|work=RTÉ Entertainment|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éirean|accessdate=7 November 2009}}
He was also Musical Director for recent productions of the Royal Variety Performance for ITV, including in 2021, the hundredth anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall,{{cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2015/royal-variety-performance-2015-review-at-royal-albert-hall-london-the-biggest-night-in-showbiz/|title=Royal Variety Performance|work=Musical Director|accessdate=24 September 2016}} and for ITV's series Stepping Out{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0453439/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast |title=Strictly Dance Fever|work=Musical Director|accessdate=24 September 2016}} and Popstar to Operastar.{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8db29267|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002012109/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8db29267|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 October 2016|title=Popstar to Operastar|work=Musical Director|accessdate=24 September 2016}}
In 2013, Arch was musical director and band leader for the television special When Miranda Met Bruce.{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3206878/fullcredits/ |title=When Miranda met Bruce|work=Musical Director|accessdate=24 September 2016}}
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.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}
=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.{{cite web |url=http://www.greglake.com/uploads/tour/dave.html |title=David Arch Interview|year=2005|publisher=The Official Greg Lake Web Site|accessdate=3 October 2010}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dave-arch.com/album/coming-home/|title=Coming Home – Dave Arch|website=Dave-arch.com|accessdate=11 August 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website}}
- [http://www.dave-arch.com/discography Discography] at dave-arch.com
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20161105071025/http://www.dave-arch.com/filmography.html Filmography] at dave-arch.com
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20161105071154/http://www.dave-arch.com/television.html TV credits] at dave-arch.com
- {{IMDb name|id=nm0033575}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arch, David}}
Category:British male composers
Category:Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Category:People from Henley-on-Thames
Category:Musicians from Oxfordshire