As a youngster growing up in Delaware, Ohio, David Hay would watch his mother, an accomplished cellist, practice, and he knew he wanted to be a musician. He wasn't really sure what instrument he wanted to play, but he knew he wanted to play an instrument with "buttons".

Almost four decades later, the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Bridge Maintenance Project Coordinator spends his free time as a principal French Horn player with the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra (since 1981)and the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra (since 1979).

He began playing the horn at age 12, studying with Mr. Charles Thompson, brass teacher at Ohio Wesleyan University. By age 14 he was appearing with the Ohio Wesleyan University Symphony Orchestra. While attending Ohio Wesleyan, he majored in horn performance and performed with various groups including the Columbus Symphony and the Mansfield Symphony Orchestras. Also, while an undergraduate, David studied under professional horn players Marvin Howe, principal horn with the Toledo Symphony, at the Interlochen Music School; John Cerminaro, principal horn with the New York Philharmonic; and Michael Hatfield, principal horn with the Cincinnati Symphony. He studied with Cerminaro and Hatfield at the prestigious Aspen Music Festival.

In 1978, David moved to Wyoming to study engineering. After a semester of study at the University of Wyoming, he learned of an opening in the WYDOT Bridge Program and has lived in Cheyenne ever since. As a Bridge Maintenance Project Coordinator, he is responsible for inspecting damaged or deteriorating bridges and designing the repair of the structures. David is also a chief inspector for all new bridge structures in the state of Wyoming.

David has performed with local groups such as the Fort Collins Opera Orchestra, the Greeley Philharmonic, the University of Wyoming Symphony, the Denver Brass, and the Fort Collins Wind Symphony. David also co-founded the Cheyenne Brass - Brass Quintet in 1989.

David enjoys participating and watching most sports, traveling, and hiking with his family in the mountains.