Dr. Michael Davis

Dr. Michael Davis, Assistant Artistic Director, began serving the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir in 2002 and has held multiple roles during his tenure. He brings over 20 years of experience performing, preparing, and conducting choral masterworks and has worked with conductors including Robert Shaw, Neville Marriner, Peter Schreier, Raymond Leppard, Charles Dutoit, Vance George, Margaret Hillis, Don Neuen, Nicolas McGegan, Mario Venzago, Erich Kunzel, Jack Everly, Patrick Quigley, Michael Christie, and Krzysztof Urbański. He served as chorus master for the Symphonic Choir’s world premiere (2015) and Carnegie Hall performance of Mohammed Fairouz’s commissioned oratorio Zabur, released by Naxos Records (both 2016). His work conducting the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra was included on Festival of Carols (Naxos 2019) featuring the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir and Sylvia McNair.

Davis has directed, managed, and performed concert tours nationally (44 states) and internationally (Europe, Asia, Canada). He possesses a uniquely eclectic background in professional performance spanning nearly 40 years in genres including bluegrass, jazz, western-swing, and country music on instruments including piano, guitar, dobro, mandolin, and fiddle. He is currently Minister of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Noblesville, Indiana and is a past director/producer of the critically acclaimed Ball State University Singers, “Indiana’s Official Goodwill Ambassadors.”

In addition to his musical endeavors, Davis has held corporate leadership positions managing people, projects, and teams for multi-regional financial institutions and community banks for 15 years and has served and advised leaders from large corporations, small businesses, non-profit organizations, and churches. Also active within the community, he is a past board chair and artistic advisor for Matthew’s Voices—a choir engaging with people living on the streets of Indianapolis through the restorative power of singing.

Davis holds degrees in conducting and vocal performance, and the Doctor of Arts degree in Choral Conducting and Higher Education Administration and Leadership from Ball State University. He is currently pursuing the Master of Social Work degree from Indiana University. He has held teaching positions at Manchester University and Ball State
University.