David L. Ritt grew up on Long Island, New York. His father was a historian and his mother a pianist. He started playing the trombone at the age of nine, and graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 1979. He became the Principal Trombone of the Seattle Symphony, and the Seattle Opera, since 1981. He moved to Second Trombone in 2006. He plays Bass Trumpet for Seattle Opera's Ring cycle. He performs regularly at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, where he plays trombone in the church choir (yes, really).

David is working on writing accompaniments to Rochut's Melodious Etudes that will allow trombonists to play them in both Duet and Trio form. As of October, 2011, he has completed the first 45.