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Ian Davidson - Oboe

headshot of Dr. Ian Davidson

Ian Davidson has appeared as soloist and chamber musician on five continents. His many international concerts have taken him to Italy, England, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Scotland, Austria, Slovakia, Poland, The People’s Republic of China, Hungary, Czech Republic, and the Republic of South Africa.

  He is Associate Principal Oboe of the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Principal Oboe of the Austin Lyric Opera Orchestra and Solo English Horn of the Bear Valley Music Festival. Other engagements include stints as Principal Oboe of the Dallas Bach Orchestra and the Austin Sinfonietta as well as Assistant Principal /Utility Oboe of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra and Co-Principal Oboe of the Dallas Chamber Orchestra.

Concerto appearances include the Dallas Bach Orchestra, the Austin Chamber Orchestra, the Austin Sinfonietta, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, the Laredo Philharmonic, Chamber Soloists of Austin, Balcones Chamber Orchestra, and the Bear Valley Symphony Orchestra.

International recitals and residencies include the Moscow Conservatory of Music, Hong Kong Baptist University, the University of Silesia, Trinity College of Music in London, the Institute of Culture in St. Petersburg, the University of Piui in Brazil, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa, and the State Conservatory of Music in Bratislava.

His festival appearances in the Aspen Music Festival, the Victoria Bach Festival, the Grand Teton Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Bear Valley Music Festival, Mendocino Music Festival, Festivale da Musica Camera, and the Festivale dei due Mondi.

Dr. Davidson is a founding member of the Wild Basin Winds, an Austin-based national woodwind quintet that has performed in such locations as the Kennedy Center and the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, and has commissioned, recorded, and premiered dozens of new works.

His recordings include numerous television commercials, pop music recordings, the movie “Spy Kids II”, and four recordings with the Wild Basin Winds - “Christmas”, “High-Wood”, “Three for Three”, and “Ferdinand the Bull” - all available on iTunes.

Recognized for outstanding contributions in teaching, service and scholarly/creative activity, he has received twelve Presidential Award Nominations, been twice named “Favorite Professor” by the Alpha Chi Honor Society, was the first performer invited to present the Dean’s Seminar, the first faculty member from the School of Music elected to the TSU Faculty Senate, and in 2003 was nominated by the Austin Critics Round Table as “Best Instrumental Soloist” for his work with the Chamber Soloists of Austin, performing the Complete Brandenburg Concertos of J.S. Bach.

A two-time college nominee, Dr. Davidson was awarded the Presidential Award for Outstanding Scholarly / Creative Activities in 1999.

Dr. Davidson holds degrees from DePauw University and the University of Texas and is Professor of Music at Texas State University, where he teaches oboe and humanities.