Jeff Davis was appointed University Carillonist in July of 2000. He began carillon studies in 1984 with Berkeley’s first University Carillonist Ronald Barnes. Prior to his tenure at Berkeley, Davis was University Carillonist at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.
Davis passed the professional examination of The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America in 1988 and has since served that organization as a juror on the Johan Franco composition committee, the Carillonneur Examination Committee, and as President of the GCNA from 1996-2000, He was a Director of the Guild from 1996 to 2001. Davis has also been the GCNA representative to the Committee of Delegates of the World Carillon Federation.
Davis gives recitals throughout the U.S. and Europe. He has been a guest artist in the Ann Arbor Festival, the Barcelona International Festival, the Springfield International Carillon Festival, and has twice represented the Guild in artist recitals at congresses of the World Carillon Federation. He was awarded the Berkeley Medal for distinguished service to the carillon in 1993.
A composer as well as carillonist, Davis studied composition with Don Gillis, Deems Taylor, and Howard Hanson. He attended the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan, and was made a Distinguished Alumnus in 1974. His works, in a wide variety of media, have not been performed nearly enough.
Compositions and arrangements for carillon and other instruments by Jeff Davis are published by The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America, American Carillon Music Editions, the Berkeley Carillon Institute, and ScoreExchange.com.
Compositions/Performances/Publications
Le Flaneur for Violin, Violonello, and Piano
Io Saturnalia for Symphonic Wind Ensemble (first performance by UC Wind Ensemble)
Three Sonnets for Chamber Orchestra
Nonet for Two Oboes, English Horn, Two Bassoons, Contra Bassoon, Harp, and two Percussionists
Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet
Quartet for Bassoon and String Trio
Sinfonia for Orchestra
The Big Bong for Carillon Duet and Tsar Bell
The Sky’s The Limit for Carillon and Mallet Percussion
A Little Sweet for Carillon Duet
Cançons de Catalunya for Carillon (first performance at Barcelona Festival)
Songs & Dances of the American Revolution for Carillon (first performance at Valley Forge)
Ave Maria Virgo Serena for unaccompanied Chorus
Prinderella and the Cince for unaccompanied Chorus
Quintet for Harpsichord, Flute, Oboe, Violin, and Violoncello
Double Reed Trio for Oboe, Oboe d’Amore, and English horn
Eclogue for Flute, Viola, and Harp
Arabesque for ‘Cello solo
Birds In the Garden for Woodwind Dectet
Poems and Interludes for Violin, Harp, and Percussion
Trios for Flute and Bassoon
House of Fame for Orchestra and Chorus
A Cup of Rejoicing for carillon