Ivan Davis
Encyclopedia
Ivan Roy Davis, Jr. is an American
classical pianist
.
in 1952 from University of North Texas College of Music
, and an Artist's Diploma, as a Fulbright Scholar, from the Santa Cecilia Academy in Rome
. He won second prize in the 1956 and 1957 Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition
and first prize in the 1958 St. Cecilia Piano Competition. In April 1960, Davis won the Franz Liszt Competition at Town Hall
, New York City. Davis studied under Silvio Scionti
, Carlo Zecchi
and Vladimir Horowitz
.
's Town Hall in 1959. Davis made his international debut at the Festival dei Due Mondi
in Spoleto
. In 1960, he signed with CBS Records and began a 60 concert cross-country tour. He has toured the world with several major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra
, the Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra
and the Spanish National Orchestra. He has performed under such world-famous conductor
s as Leonard Bernstein
, Eugene Ormandy
and Lorin Maazel
. He is listed in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, and has received the Handel Medallion
from New York City
for contributions to the city's cultural life. He recorded for London Records in the 1970s. Since 1966, Davis has been a professor of music at the University of Miami
in Coral Gables, Florida
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
classical pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
The Early Years
Davis received his Bachelor of MusicBachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
in 1952 from University of North Texas College of Music
University of North Texas College of Music
The University of North Texas College of Music, based in Denton, is a comprehensive music school with the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and the oldest in the world offering a degree in jazz studies...
, and an Artist's Diploma, as a Fulbright Scholar, from the Santa Cecilia Academy in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He won second prize in the 1956 and 1957 Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition
Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition
The Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition is a music competition for young pianists that takes place in Bolzano, Italy.-History: The first Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition was organized by Cesare Nordio in 1949 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the death of pianist and...
and first prize in the 1958 St. Cecilia Piano Competition. In April 1960, Davis won the Franz Liszt Competition at Town Hall
The Town Hall
The Town Hall is a performance space, located at 123 West 43rd Street, between Sixth Avenue and Broadway, in New York City. It seats approximately 1,500 people.-History:...
, New York City. Davis studied under Silvio Scionti
Silvio Scionti
Silvio Vittore Alberto Scionti was an Italian-born American pianist and teacher. Born in Acireale, Sicily, he trained at the Royal Conservatory in Naples...
, Carlo Zecchi
Carlo Zecchi
Carlo Zecchi was an Italian pianist, music teacher and conductor.Zecchi was born in Rome. He led pianistic courses in Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rome, and in Salzburg. Highly acclaimed performer of Domenico Scarlatti, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Claude Debussy works, and of Romantic...
and Vladimir Horowitz
Vladimir Horowitz
Vladimir Samoylovich Horowitz was a Russian-American classical virtuoso pianist and minor composer. His technique and use of tone color and the excitement of his playing were legendary. He is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.-Life and early...
.
Performance and Recording Career
He debuted at New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Town Hall in 1959. Davis made his international debut at the Festival dei Due Mondi
Festival dei Due Mondi
The Festival dei Due Mondi ' is an annual summer music and opera festival held each June to early July in Spoleto, Italy, since its founding by composer Gian Carlo Menotti in 1958...
in Spoleto
Spoleto
Spoleto is an ancient city in the Italian province of Perugia in east central Umbria on a foothill of the Apennines. It is S. of Trevi, N. of Terni, SE of Perugia; SE of Florence; and N of Rome.-History:...
. In 1960, he signed with CBS Records and began a 60 concert cross-country tour. He has toured the world with several major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
, the Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
and the Spanish National Orchestra. He has performed under such world-famous conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
s as Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
, Eugene Ormandy
Eugene Ormandy
Eugene Ormandy was a Hungarian-born conductor and violinist.-Early life:Born Jenő Blau in Budapest, Hungary, Ormandy began studying violin at the Royal National Hungarian Academy of Music at the age of five...
and Lorin Maazel
Lorin Maazel
Lorin Varencove Maazel is an American conductor, violinist and composer.- Early life :Maazel was born to Jewish-American parents in Neuilly-sur-Seine in France and brought up in the United States, primarily at his parents' home in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood. His father, Lincoln Maazel , was...
. He is listed in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, and has received the Handel Medallion
Handel Medallion
The Handel Medallion is an American award presented by the City of New York, New York. It is the city's highest award given to individuals for their contribution to the city's intellectual and cultural life.-Establishment:...
from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for contributions to the city's cultural life. He recorded for London Records in the 1970s. Since 1966, Davis has been a professor of music at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
in Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
.
Discography
- "Davis Plays Czerny, Schumann, Liszt", Audiofon, CD 72004
- "The Wind Demon and other 19th century piano music", New World, 80257-2
- "Piano Music of Grieg - Ivan Davis", Audiofon, CD 72022
- "Liszt - Piano Concertos - Ivan Davis", London Weekend Classics, 421-629-2
- "Souvenir de Porto Rico - Piano Music of Gottschalk - Ivan Davis", London Weekend Classics, 436-108-2
- "Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue - Cleveland Orchestra - Maazel", London Jubilee, 417-716-2
- "Digital George - Gershwin Classics", Musical Heritage Society, 513380w
- "Chopin - Favourite Piano Works - Ivan Davis", Castile Communications, CCD-106
- "Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 1 - Davis", Castile Communications, CCD-103
- "Liszt's Greatest Hits - Hungarian Fantasy with Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra, CBS-MLK-39450
- "Music of George Antheil", Music Masters Classics (BMG), 67094-2
Family
- On August 6, 1960, Davis married Betty Lou Saxton, who studied at Juilliard and Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. The wedding ceremony took place in the Glass HouseGlass HouseThe Glass House or Johnson house, built in 1949 in New Canaan, Connecticut, was designed by Philip Johnson as his own residence and is a masterpiece in the use of glass. It was an important and influential project for Johnson and for modern architecture. The building is an essay in minimal...
of Philip JohnsonPhilip JohnsonPhilip Cortelyou Johnson was an influential American architect.In 1930, he founded the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and later , as a trustee, he was awarded an American Institute of Architects Gold Medal and the first Pritzker Architecture...
in New Canaan, ConnecticutNew Canaan, ConnecticutNew Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...
. Theodate Johnson (1907–2002), sister of the architect, Philip JohnsonPhilip JohnsonPhilip Cortelyou Johnson was an influential American architect.In 1930, he founded the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and later , as a trustee, he was awarded an American Institute of Architects Gold Medal and the first Pritzker Architecture...
attended the couple.