Faculty Profile

Degrees

DMA, Rutgers University; MM, Manhattan Schl Music; BM, Univ Hartford

Bio

Grammy-nominated hornist, Dr. Eric C. Davis leads a diverse musical life. "... Mr. Davis plays with admirable poetry," praised The New York Times. Known for his versatility, Dr. Davis is in demand as an educator, soloist, chamber, orchestral and commercial musician.

Dr. Davis is the former Principal Horn of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Queretaro (Mexico), and La Kamerata, Chamber Orchestra (Greece). In addition, he has performed with the Orchestra of St. Lukes, American Symphony Orchestra, and currently performs with the New Jersey Symphony, the Princeton Symphony, and the Vermont Symphony. 

In chamber music, he is a member of the exciting Gateway’s Brass Collective and also performs with the Harlem Chamber Players, the Bronx Arts Ensemble, and the Sylvan Winds.

Recent residencies at music festivals include The Caramoor Festival, The Gateway’s Music Festival, The Saint-Georges International Music Festival (Guadeloupe Island), The Washington Square Park Music Festival (NYC), The Holder’s Season (Barbados), and The Nango Jazz Festival (Japan).

Dr. Davis, an active soloist, has performed with The Washington Square Music Festival, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Queretaro, The Rutgers Wind Symphony, The Huntington Community Band, The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, The United Nations Symphony Orchestra, The Brooklyn Conservatory Community Orchestra, and The Manhattan Virtuosi.

Dr. Davis is a two-time Grammy nominee in 2018 for the album “The Art of Arrangement” by Doug Beavers and for the 2012 Broadway cast recording of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. His passion for playing many styles of music have enabled him to work with the "The Roots" on The Tonight Show hosted by Jimmy Fallon, and with Barry Manilow, Neil Sedaka, Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra Jr., Bernadette Peters, Indiana Menzel, Kristen Chenoweth, Natalie Merchant, David Byrne, Matt Simons, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Kelly Finnigan, Antibalas and Breakdown Brass.

Mr. Davis was an orchestra member in the Broadway productions of Gigi, the Tony Award-winning The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and the Kander and Ebb production of Curtains. He is currently performing in the Broadway orchestra pits of Frozen, Tootsie, and The Lion King. 

Dr. Davis received his Bachelor’s degree in music from the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford, his Masters of Music from Manhattan School of Music, and received his Doctorate in Musical Arts from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. 

His teachers include David Jolley, Douglas Lundeen, William Brown, Vitaly Bujanovski, Jerome Ashby, and Francis Orval.

Recent Courses Taught