“Timing is everything.”
—Dave Zygmunt

Drummer Dave Zygmunt was born and raised in Central Pennsylvania. His distinguished, award-winning career began with a trip to the principal’s office after his second-grade teacher became exasperated with his continual pencil “drumming” on his desk. It was then that Dave began working with his greatest mentor, Richard Greger, elementary school principal and drum teacher.

Before Dave had even graduated from high school, he already had two European tours under his belt. After graduation, he decided a life of music and travel would suit him just fine. He auditioned and was accepted into the United States Navy Music Program and graduated from the Armed Forces School of Music. He toured across the United States and Canada, performing in groups ranging from ceremonial concert bands to big bands. His performances with the Navy Show Band have spanned the globe from South America to the South Pacific, from the Pacific Northwest to West Africa, and from British Columbia to the Caribbean.

While still a member of the Navy Band, Dave also found much success as a freelance artist in all the areas in which he has lived. He was especially active in the Virginia Tidewater music scene, where he performed in small jazz groups, big bands, rhythm & blues bands, and Top 40 bands.

Dave is especially at home in the small-group setting. He performed as a member of Random Abstract, one of a few jazz combos asked to participate in the Seattle Free Jazz Festival. The group also performed in the Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle. Dave performed in and led many dynamic ensembles both as a career military musician and as a freelance artist.

His passion and talent for his art can be heard in his freelance work and experienced in his teaching. After retiring from the United States Navy, Dave has continued his work in many local area ensembles. He is currently Performance Studies faculty in Percussion at Dickinson College. He also leads his own jazz group, The Dave Zygmunt Group, based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and can be heard frequently in the surrounding area.