Dave Smith was born in 1949 and read music at Magdalene College Cambridge.During the 1970s and early 1980s he performed with the Scratch Orchestra, various composer/performer ensembles and groups specialising in Javanese gamelan and Albanian folk musics.  

A member of the Gavin Bryars Ensemble since its inception, he has been active as a pianist, brass-player, percussionist and conductor. A large number of ensemble arrangements have resulted from 50 years of teaching music in educational institutions. His own compositions have been performed and broadcast throughout the world and include nine recital-length Piano Concerts.