In addition to serving as Chair of the Department of Music Theory and Composition, Dr. Davis is coordinator of instrumental activities and conductor of the Wind Ensemble.  In 1993, he founded NewSound, the seminary’s jazz lab band, which he also directs.

A native of Mississippi, Dr. Davis holds the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in theory and composition from the University of Mississippi and the Ph.D. in composition from the University of Utah; he has done further study at the Eastman School of Music.  His composition teachers have included Samuel Adler, Vladimir Ussachevsky, Ramiro Cortes, and Raymond Liebau.

Dr. Davis’s works have been performed throughout the country and in England, Italy, Brazil, China, and Japan.  He was a recipient of a composer fellowship for the 1984 Petit Jean Art Song Festival and was featured composer in the 1989 New Music Festival at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.  He received the 1985 Delius Festival Award for Vocal Composition, first prize in the 1980 Ithaca College Choral Composition Contest, and two first prizes and a second prize in competitions sponsored by the Texas Composers Guild.  His Symphonic Variants on a Southern Hymn Tune was selected by the Virginia College Band Directors’ Association for its 1995 Symposium of New Band Music, and Rondo Concertante for Euphonium and Orchestra was recently performed by Southwestern alumnus Don Palmire and the United States Army Orchestra.  Fanfare on a French Carol was awarded the 1997 Gerald Armstrong Award.  He has also received an ASCAP award each year since 1994.  In April of 2001, he conducted the Southwestern Oratorio Chorus and the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra in the premiere of his How Can I Keep From Singing?  His works are published by Theodore Presser, Southern Music Company, Genevox, and Tuba-Euphonium Press.

Education

• Post-doctoral study, Eastman School of Music, 1986
• Ph.D., University of Utah, 1981
• M.M., University of Mississippi, 1976
• B.M., University of Mississippi, 1975

Composition Studies

• Samuel Adler, Vladimir Ussachevsky, Ramiro Cortes, Raymond Liebau

Teaching Experience

• Professor of Music Theory and Composition, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1979-Present
• Instructor, Division of Continuing Education, University of Utah, 1978
• Graduate Assistant, University of Utah, 1976-79
• Graduate Instructor, University of Mississippi, 1976

Church Experience

• Orchestra Director, Southcliff Baptist Church, 1995-Present

Awards

• ASCAP Award, 1994-2006
• Virginia College Band Directors National Association New Band Music Composer Finalist, 1995
• Second Prize,Texas Composers Guild,1988
• Vocal Category Award, Delius Festival, 1985
• Petit Jean International Art Song Festival Composer Fellowship, 1984
• First Prize, Texas Composers Guild, 1981
• First Prize, Ithaca College Choral Composition Contest, 1981

Publications

• RONDO CONCERTANTE, Tuba Press, 1997
• CEREMONIAL PIECE, Southern Music Company, 1988
• THE LAMB, Theoodore Presser, 1981
• THOU WILT KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE, Hinshaw Music, 1981

Personal

• Spouse: Barbara
• Children: Matthew
• Church Membership: Southcliff Baptist Church

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