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Music and Performing Arts
Duane Davis
Duane Davis, originally from Cleveland, received his music degrees from Knoxville College and Kent State University.
He has taught in Grand Rapids, Michigan area since 1969. He is presently the Director of Vocal Music at Grand Rapids Community College as well as Chorus Master for Opera Grand Rapids. He has also served on the adjunct faculty of Western Michigan University where he directed Gold Company II and Gold Company.
Duane is the 1990 recipient of the Giants Award, recognizing community leaders and is the 1993 recipient of the Excellence in Education Award, presented each year to a GRCC faculty or staff member, nominated by their peers. He is also the recipient of the 2003 ARTS Award, presented by the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids and most recently Duane received the Maynard Klein Award for Choral Excellence, presented annually by the American Choral Directors Association of Michigan.
Under his direction, the Grand Rapids Community College vocal jazz ensemble, Shades of Blue has opened programs for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, John Houseman, Coretta Scott King, David Letterman and Tony Bennett. Shades has performed with Bob McGrath (Sesame Street ) when he appeared with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra. They also presented a workshop with Bobby McFerrin under the auspices of the Grand Rapids Symphony. They have presented workshops and programs for the American Choral Directors Association, the March Festival of Holland, the International Association of Jazz Educators conventions in Dallas, Detroit, San Antonio, Washington and Chicago, and have performed at the Collegiate Showcase in Chicago, Nashville and Orlando.
Duane has served as director of the Blue Lake International Choir on numerous European tours. He also prepared and a directed a chorus to represent Grand Rapids on a tour of Japan. His college choir has performed at Carnegie Hall and the ACDA Choral Hour. Duane has served as guest director for DODDS Atlantic Choral Festival in London, England. He is a regular staff member and clinician for the Phil Mattson Jazz Workshop, Showstoppers, Brightleaf Music Workshop and Showchoir Camps of America.. For several summers Duane served as director of The Disney-Grammy All American College Singers at EPCOT for Walt Disney World. These singers performed with and opened concerts for Nell Carter, Rosemary Clooney, Mercer Ellington, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, Eartha Kitt, Ramsey Lewis, Cleo Laine, Arturo Sandoval, Maureen McGovern, Della Reese, Dianne Reeves, Diane Schuur, Billy Taylor, Toni Tennille, Leslie Uggams, Joe Williams and others.
Duane has served as adjudicator for the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. As a national judge he has the pleasure of recognizing outstanding high school students of music in the Arts Recognition and Talent Search.
Duane has serves as director for many All-State and district Choral Festivals in Arizona, Illinois, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Wisconsin as well as Canada. His compositions and arrangements have been premiered by the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, Gold Company of Western Michigan University and other ensembles.
During the summer of 2005, Duane served as guest clinician at the Riga, Lativia Choral Festival and presented sessions on Vocal Jazz Rehearsal Techniques at the World Symposium on Choral Music, in Kyoto, Japan as well as choral workshops in Tokyo, for the Tokyo Choral Directors Association. He will again serve as guest conductor on the Carnegie Hall Master Works Series, conducting the Chichester Psalms of Leonard Bernstein.
Duane is married and the father of three.
Courses Taught This Semester
- MU105 - Interpretation
- MU107 - Introduction to Music Listening
- MU109 - Jazz in Contemporary America
- MU191 - College Choir
- MU294 - Shades of Blue
- Applied Voice
My Special Interests
- Gardening
- Travel
- Photography
- Biking
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Updated on 17-AUG-06
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