Meet David

David Nakazono found his true voice in the trumpet, a medium through which he connects with audiences, fellow performers, and himself. For David, music transcends language, culture, space, and time, creating a uniquely human connection. Raised in a military family, his musical journey began early, performing in Europe before finishing high school. As a child, David spent car rides buzzing on a trumpet mouthpiece, and by middle school, he was hooked on the trumpet. His path to music was not straightforward—he also explored academics, sports, and piano—but through it all, trumpet remained his constant.

While studying Physics and Trumpet Performance at UC Santa Barbara, David found himself at a crossroads: one path leading toward a career as a physicist, the other as a musician. A defining question from his father—"When are you going to quit trumpet?"—prompted David to realize that music was his true calling. This epiphany set him on a path to earn a Master’s degree at the Chicago College of Performing Arts and train with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

As the Principal Trumpet of the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra, David divides his time between Honolulu and Chicago, where he performs with Lakeshore Brass, the South Bend Symphony, and other ensembles across the Midwest. His musical journey has taken him around the globe, forging connections with countless individuals along the way. Whether performing with an orchestra, a brass quintet, or as a soloist, David seeks to inspire resonance between people and the world through music.