Born for this — new School of Music Director Davies brings a life-long love of music to Nazareth

By Jake Kwiatkowski '12, '21G

David Davies was born into a family of music. From the very beginning it has been an integral part of his life and being. His father was the band director at a school in Florida, both his parents were church musicians, and weekends saw the whole family at either parades, church services or both. It was the family business and though he was never pressured to it by his parents, he followed in their footsteps and fell in love with the art.

He found he enjoyed all aspects of music and developed a deeper love while in high school where he played piano and french horn. Upon attending college, he studied piano performance and became a self-proclaimed "jack of all trades" when it came to music, Instead of veering down the road of a performing musician with a single instrument focus, David was in love with the entirety of music and a holistic education at large. (Read more about Davies' accomplishments.)

Davies, who holds a doctorate in musical arts, came to Nazareth College this July to lead the School of Music after serving as the head of the Department of Music at Texas A&M University-Commerce. When asked what he would be doing if he wasn't in music he clearly drew a blank. "You know you should be a musician if you can't think of anything else you should do. If there's another thing you can do, you should probably do it because it would be easier than being a musician!" Though a career in music can be one of the most fulfilling experiences, the hours of work are long and it is not for the faint of heart. Music is for everyone, but a career in music is for a chosen few.

Why Nazareth and Western New York?

Davies attended Houghton College for his undergraduate degree; another liberal arts school in the Northeast. He was always attracted to a liberal arts education and the holistic approach it entails. When a posting for a music director appeared at Nazareth he was immediately intrigued. He was aware of the School of Music's reputation from his time at Houghton and was particularly drawn to the diversity of programs given the smaller size of the school, the sense of community that Nazareth exudes, and the faculty and staff he'd be working alongside. He says he's even prepared for the western New York winter and the gray months ahead. His wife's family is from the Northeast and his previous years at Houghton helped him learn that, indeed, winter is coming.

What's the most important attribute to have to be a successful student in music?

"A healthy pairing of time-management and persistence." There are plenty of students who have raw talent but lack the discipline needed to organize their time to put in the work. Unlike, say, a conservatory where you sit and play grace notes all day, at Nazareth students need to factor in time to complete their other studies which are so important to the holistic education Davies believes in and Nazareth encourages. Music is part of an "education for the whole person."

How do you encourage these attributes toward your students?

"I try to model (time-management and persistence) for my students. I try to be good about structuring my days so that they know when I'm available, getting back to students quickly when they have questions, and also trying to model a healthy life and work balance." There is an orientation class on learning to structure your days at the beginning of the semester to help students get into a good schedule to balance their music and liberal arts education.

How has technology impacted music and how it's taught?

The pandemic has forced every discipline to adapt and the college has made more resources available to music students to continue distance learning. Voice lessons have moved entirely online and you may have noticed the practice tents on the lawn outside the arts center. (Read more about how the School of Music is adapting to those changes.)

Though the actual art of music hasn't changed, how has the digital marketplace affected classical music in particular?

All musicians now have to be entrepreneurs. Where once this was more resigned to contemporary music those lines have become far more blurred and in some cases almost erased. Even classical musicians have to have a website, social media presences, apply for grants, coordinate with arts councils, and you need to do this all yourself. This is how young musicians are making a living these days.

Since all musicians need to be entrepreneurs these days, how is Nazareth adapting to help its students prepare?

Nazareth has been moving rapidly to incorporate music business into the core curriculum and music business is a major students can graduate with from the school of music. The hope is to also incorporate basic music business skills into more "traditional" music degrees such as performance or education to better help students prepare for this changing landscape.

What was the first concert you remember attending?

The first concert I remember was the Palm Beach Orchestra with my parents. Church and band concerts and recitals were a regular occurrence growing up. The first concert I bought tickets for on my own was to see the rock band Bush in Orlando, Florida.

2:30 p.m. hits, what do you do to stay motivated throughout the day?

Besides being a habitual coffee drinker, taking a morning and afternoon walk through the campus is a great way to energize and re-set. It's one of the many benefits of having such a beautiful campus.

I saw you have an orange tabby cat named Spot? Is he named after Data's Spot from Star Trek: The Next Generation?

He is! I originally wanted to name him Data but my kids didn't like that. So, I said, how about Spot, knowing they wouldn't understand the reference, and they loved it. I'm a Star Trek fan and even remember leaving an annual BBQ fundraiser with my family earlier one year to drive home and see the series premiere of The Next Generation air on television.

Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.

Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.

• published: 2020 September
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