David Archibald

David Archibald played his first guitar in Spain, and you can still find the warmth of the Andalusian sunshine in his music. His work on Great Lakes marine heritage Spirit of the Inland Sea has been featured at National and Provincial Parks as well as the Blyth Festival. He was invited to give a workshop on traditional music of the Great Lakes at the North American Folk Alliance Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.

Parks have also commissioned David to write and record collections on their natural and cultural history. Pukaskwa: Songs of Superior is a CD created for the National Park on Lake Superior. David has also produced Savanna, Sand and Butterflies for Pinery and Legends and Lore of the Charleston Shore for Charleston Lake Provincial Park. His interactive live performances in parks across Ontario have become camper favourites.

He produced the first recording of pop star Avril Lavigne. His pop-music compositions have been recorded with RCA, and several of his compositions reside in the catalogues of ATV Music Group, Sunbury/Dunbar and Sony Music. Archibald was also head composer/performer on Corel's CD ROM Big Fish Wish. David's music is regularly featured on CBC radio programmes such as The Vinyl Caf?, Morningside, Fresh Air, Ontario Morning, Radio Noon and more. He has toured extensively across Canada and the U.S. as well as Bermuda. He has performed at Nathan Philips Square, Harbourfront, Queen's Park and the Winter Garden in Toronto.

The Perilous Pirate's Daughter (a musical co-written by Anne Chislett) was a hit at the Blyth Festival and Thousand Island Playhouse. Love & Larceny (co-written by Douglas Bowie) premiered at the Thousand Islands Playhouse where David has been musical director and composer for the Young Company for several years.

Archibald's first symphonic work -- a multi-media astronomical piece (commissioned by Terence Dickinson) entitled Symphonia Galactica -- received its debut in February 1998 with the Kingston Symphony. He was also commissioned to write and perform Schubert: The Man and His Music for the Genessee Symphony Orchestra in New York. Recordings include: Spirit of the Inland Sea; Pukaskwa: Songs of Superior; Savanna, Sand & Butterflies (Exploring 'Pinery' in Song); St, Nora's Tower and Titanic: Pride of the White Star Line .

Much of David's work has been in the field of children's music. He has written for and performed on Sesame Street in New York and CBC's Mr. Dressup. His score to Return of the Tiger was a hit at the Guelph Spring Festival. His song-writing workshops for children have earned the Heritage Youth Leaders Award from the Ontario Heritage Foundation.