Athens Symphony

Winter Concert Soloist:

WILLIAM DAVIS

William Davis is an Associate Director and the bassoon professor in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia, where he has been a faculty member since 1981. He earned Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees at the University of Kansas, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music. He studied bassoon with David Van Hoesen and Austin Ledwith, and his main composition teachers have been John Pozdro, Samuel Adler, and Warren Benson. He has performed widely as a soloist and chamber musician in the USA, Europe, and South America, and he is featured on numerous commercial recordings as both a bassoonist and composer. His published compositions include works for soloists, chamber ensembles, chorus, and symphonic band. His works for orchestra have been performed by the San Antonio Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, the Macon Symphony, and other orchestras.

Prior to taking his current position at the University of Georgia, he was an Army Band Officer (1972- 74), a bassoonist in the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra (1974-75), and a faculty member at West Texas State University (1975-81). He has served in several officer positions in the International Double Reed Society, and as President of the Southeastern Composers League and the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors. In 2006 he received the UGA Albert Crist-Janer Award for Creative Research in the Arts and Humanities.