Davis earned her bachelor of music education
degree in 1956 and master of arts degree in 1959 from
SHSU. She has worked as an elementary, junior high and
high school teacher in the Huntsville school district
for 16 years, directing various choral groups and also
teaching English. She also has taught elementary vocal
music in the Houston school district, was a second grade
teacher in the Aldine district, and taught junior high
vocal music and choir in the Aldine district.
She has worked as creative director for the Huntsville
Advertising Agency, has sung with the Houston Grand
Opera, and was a studio voice teacher for 11 years
at SHSU.
Her personal affiliations
and recognition include Alpha
Chi, Pi Kappa Lambda, the
national Association of Teachers
of Singing, Texas Music Educators
Association, Texas Choral
Directors Association (state
secretary and board of directors
1983-84, American Guild of
Musical Artists, Coordinator
of Music for the First United
Methodist Church of Huntsville
(1996-98), and Huntsville
Cooperative of Women Artists
Secretary (1998-99).
Her civic and humanitarian service includes the Huntsville
Arts Commission (advisory member, Huntsville Community
Theatre (patron and performer), First United Methodist
Church Chancel Choir (member and alto soloist), director
of music for Huntsville Enrichment Activities Program
for productions including Heidi, Mary Poppins, Peter
Pan, The King and I, Fantasticks, Oliver, South Pacific,
Lil' Abner, Grease and Gypsy, soloist for the Huntsville
Community Choral Society including performances of
Ahmal and the Night Visitors and The Messiah, Bach
Choir of Huntsville (member and alto soloist), United
Way Benefit Concert (including writing, production
and performance), and Huntsville Arts Commission concerts
for nursing homes, schools and other community events.
Davis has received many awards for service and professional
accomplishments, including Outstanding Young Women
of Merica, the SHSU Music Department Outstanding Alumni
Award, and held memberships and offices in Sigma Alpha
Iota (president while at SHSU, chapter financial adviser
as an alumnus), SHSU University Women (president),
SHSU Friends of Music (patron), Raven Honorary Advisory
Board of the SHSU College of Arts and Sciences, the
Bearkat Club, and East Texas Children's Choral Festival
(adjudicator for SHSU).
She has performed as alto soloist for churches and
schools in Austin, Houston, Huntsville and surrounding
cities, with SHSU choirs and orchestra, and with the
Bev Henson Chorale of Houston. She was a member of
the New York cast of Nixon in China and member of
the original cast recording of Nixon in China for
RCA.
While a member of the Houston Grand Opera she performed
in Madame Butterfly, The Flying Dutchman, The Magic
Flute, Eugene Onegin, La Traviata, La Boheme, Faust,
Don Giovanni, Anna Bolena, Boris Gudonov, Norma, Falstaff,
Turandot, Nixon in China, Aida, Andrea Chenier, Lohengrin
Manon, The Marriage of Figaro, Masked Ball, New Year,
The Passion of Jonathon Wade, Parsifal, Rigoletto,
Rusalka, Samson and Delilah, Tannhauser, Tosca and
Il Trovatore.
Her Huntsville High Chorale was awarded first division
honors by the Texas University Interscholastic League
every year from 1969 through 1983, with several years
being awarded the Sweepstakes honor. Her Huntsville
High Chorale was named "Outstanding Choir" among 49
choirs in the Astroworld Music Festival in 1975, and
an honor choir for the Texas Music Educators Association
in 1967, performing at the association's convention
in San Antonio.
In addition, she has served as alto section leader
for the Region IX choir and all-state choir, adjudicator
for Interscholastic League choral, solo and ensemble
contests in the Houston area from 1974-1997, adjudicator
for the Houston Schools Choral Festival in 1978, and
clinician for the Galveston Junior High Region Choir
in 1978.
Davis' husband, Thomas F. Davis, professor of mathematics
at SHSU, also received a Distinguished Alumni Award
in 1996.
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