Darryl Walters had his musical training at Kneller Hall, London, under the principal clarinet of the Covent Garden Opera House, Maurice Cody. He then spent three years in Detmold, Germany, based with the Royal Scots Grey Band and toured extensively throughout Europe. After leaving the army he enrolled at the Guildhall School of Music for three years, where he studied clarinet under Wilfred Kealey, bass clarinet under Stephen Trier, saxophones under the late Michael Krien and the flute under Jane Davis. After leaving Guildhall he toured with various orchestras and continued his studies with world renowned clarinettists and principal clarinet of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jack Brymer.
Upon coming to South Africa, Darryl Walters played in the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra for six years and ten years with the CAPAB orchestra. He also freelanced as an ad hoc member for the SABC orchestra and Durban orchestra. Highlights from his performing career have included tours with singing superstar Natalie Cole, recording for early television programmes and performing Artie Shaw’s clarinet concerto.
Darryl Walters was a founding member of the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre where he was head of department of the Woodwinds from its inception in 1986 until his retirement. During his tenure at the music centre Darryl conducted the “Swing Band”. Many of his students have gone on to become professional performing musicians and music teachers not only in South Africa but throughout the rest of the world. Darryl is still actively involved in music education in Cape Town and the surrounding areas and lectures saxophone at Stellenbosch University.