David Rooney holds a Master of Arts degree in Music and Music Education from Columbia University, New York, and a Bachelor of Education (Music) from University of Canberra. He spent a number of years as a music teacher with the ACT Department of Education and was responsible for developing a substantial band and orchestra program at Alfred Deakin High School. In recognition of this program and its impact on the school community, he was awarded the Betty Brown Memorial Award for Services to Public Education in two consecutive years. In the mid 1990s David was granted study leave, travelling to New York on an international student scholarship, and Ian Potter Foundation Cultural Trust grant to study for his Masters degree at Columbia University.

David has studied trumpet with Paul Plunkett, Max Sommerhalder, Alex Holton, orchestral studies with Mike Mulcahy, and conducting in New York with Maestro Dino Anagnost. He has performed with the Canberra City Opera Orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra and numerous other amateur and semi-professional ensembles in Canberra, Sydney and New York.

In 2009 David joined the team at Wollongong Conservatorium of Music. In addition to working with students in the brass department, he is conductor of the Wollongong Conservatorium Concert Orchestra, and the Concord Concert Band, (the Con's all ages community ensemble). He is also Band Director at Keiraville Public School and is involved with the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music Schools Program. In his spare time David maintains the unofficial Concert Orchestra website (ConOrchestra.com) detailing the Orchestra's activities and providing resources for students enrolled in the program.

David lives locally with his wife Lotte and three sons; Miles, Marley and Lonnie.