Biographical Sketch

Born in Winnipeg in 1939, Victor Davies studied piano from the age of five. As a teenager, he continued his studies as well as singing in church and school choirs, university musicals, and leading and playing in rock and jazz bands during his high school and university years.

While in pre-medicine at the University of Manitoba, he studied composition full time. Enrolling at Indiana University in 1960, he graduated with a B.Mus in composition in 1964. He returned to Winnipeg where he began his varied career as a composer, pianist, and conductor. His works include two children’s musicals, two contemporary dance scores, three symphony works, a rock musical, and many other works.

Through connections with Ben Horch, who was an influential Mennonite musician, and through funding of the B.B. Fast Foundation, Davies composed The Mennonite Piano Concerto which premiered in 1975. It was subsequently recorded in 1983 with pianist Irmgard Baerg and the London Symphony Orchestra. Some years later, William (Bill) Baerg, of Concord College, recruited Davies to produce an oratorio for the Mennonite community. The B.B. Fast foundation was again asked to help fund this project. The fruit of Davies labour was realized in 1996 when Revelation made its world premier with the Mennonite Oratorio Choir and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, all under the direction of Bramwell Tovey in Winnipeg.

Since moving to Toronto in 1977, Victor Davies has received commissions from the Oxford String Quartet, Famous People Players, CJRT radio, CBC radio, the National Film Board, Canadian Piano Trio, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Fanfare Records. He has served as President of the Canadian League of Composers and on the board of the Canadian Music Centre.