A musician and arranger whose work has been performed at events including a James Bond premiere is returning to his home county to help take Helston Town Band to an important regional contest.

David Johnson, who was born and raised at Sennen Cove, is offering his services to the band that is currently without a musical director since the departure of Darren Hendy last November.

He will help members prepare for the West of England Regionals in March.

Mr Johnson began his playing career on baritone with Penzance Silver Band before moving to solo euphonium at Lanner and District Silver Band, where he played until he joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 1990.

During his 24 years as a professional musician in the Royal Marines, his career has taken him all over the world, performing as a soloist in the USA, Canada, Russia, Ethiopia, Japan and Australia.

In addition to his talents as a performer, David is also a prolific arranger for wind and brass bands. For the past nine years his music has been featured at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall and his more recent works include arrangements performed at the world premiere of the James Bond film Skyfall and by Classic FM chart-topping saxophonist Amy Dixon.

In recognition of his achievements in this area, in 2013 he was awarded the prestigious Herbert Lott Award for Innovation and Invention in Orchestration.

David started his conducting career with Torbay Brass and in 2006 moved to Verwood Concert Brass where, over the course of three years, the band was promoted from third to first section.

In 2010 David took up the position of musical director at Aldbourne Band and has steered them to victories at the West of England First Section Regional Championships, Senior Trophy at the Spring Festival and the National Finals in Cheltenham. As recognition of his achievements with the band, he was nominated as ‘Conductor of the Year’ in the 4BarsRest Awards in 2011. In 2013 was promoted into the Open’s Grand Shield.

Having spent most of 2014 in the euphonium section of Cory Band, ranked number one in the world, Mr Johnson has now picked up his conductor’s baton once again.