The Fred Fox School of Music at the University of Arizona is pleased to welcome M. Nicole Davis as Assistant Professor of Music, Choral Conducting and Choral Music Education, serving as the Associate Director of Choral Activities, and joining our faculty fall 2023.
M. Nicole Davis is a dedicated music educator, conductor, and researcher. She will earn her Ph.D. in Music Education – Choral Conducting from Florida State University. During her doctoral studies, she served as assistant conductor for University Singers, Choral Union, the Tallahassee Community Chorus, and the Festival Singers of Florida. Additionally, Davis was the Artistic Director of the Thomasville Singers, a community choir in Thomasville, GA, for seven years. She persisted in leadership through the Covid-19 pandemic and upon returning to the stage, led the ensemble with a performance of Margaret Bonds’ The Ballad of the Brown King in 2021. This spring, she will conduct the Santa Rosa, FL All-County Middle School Honor Choir in Milton, Florida.
As a graduate teaching assistant at Florida State University, Davis worked with preservice teachers in undergraduate conducting and choral methods. Before FSU, Davis was the Choral Director at Thomas County Central High School, GA (TCCHS), directing five curricular choral ensembles (treble, tenor/bass, intermediate mixed, advanced treble, and advanced mixed) and teaching AP Music Theory. Under her direction, TCCHS became one of the top choral programs in Southwest Georgia. Her soloists and ensembles consistently won vocal competitions and earned superiors in sight reading and stage performance. Most importantly, many students became supporters of music education, with several pursuing careers in music education, music therapy, or church music.
As an active researcher, Davis is a sought-after guest lecturer and panelist. Last year, she presented at numerous state, regional, and national conferences, including the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. (NANM) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). Also, Davis is active in multiple service roles for her profession. She serves as the National Scholarship Chair for NANM, a leadership team member for Women in Choral Higher Ed (WiCHEd), and a Voices for Social Justice board member. Her scholarly interests examine the intersectionality of social, racial, and economic factors with music education and performance.