Duane Davis retired as Director of Vocal Music at Grand Rapids Community College, having also taught at Western Michigan University and Indiana University. He served as Chorus Master for Opera Grand Rapids from 1986 to 2017. His choral and vocal jazz ensembles have toured the U. S., Bahamas, Japan, and Europe, and performed in Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York’s Carnegie, Avery Fisher, and Alice Tully Halls. His ensembles have opened for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Tony Bennett, and performed with Bobby McFerrin, Kurt Elling and others. Duane served as director of The Disney-Grammy All American College Singers at EPCOT for Walt Disney World, and conducted the opening ceremonies for the Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom. Duane served as guest clinician in Riga, Lativia for the 5th International RigasRitmi Music Festival and was a guest presenter in Kyoto, and Tokyo, Japan for the 7th World Symposium on Choral Music. He also directed WMU Gold Company at the Polyfolia Music and Choralies Festivals in France. Duane has conducted all-state choirs in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Wisconsin. Duane is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Grand Rapids Symphony Legacy Award, Kent State University Distinguished Alumni Award, Maynard Klein Award for Choral Excellence presented by the American Choral Directors Association Michigan, the Giants Award, Ellis Marsalis Jazz Educator of the Year, and the Grand Rapids Community College Emeritus Faculty.
