Dr. Paul G. Davis is the new Conductor of the Webster Symphony Orchestra. 

As Associate Professor of Music at Webster University, he is also Director of Instrumental Studies.  His appointment is effective August 2009.

Paul G. Davis comes to the podium with an extensive professional background that spans both the classical and jazz idioms in conducting, performance and teaching.  In constant demand as a conductor and clinician, his musical activities have taken him throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, including numerous Regional and All-State concerts and a highly acclaimed concert with the Grand Orchestre d’Harmonie des Guides of Brussels, Belgium.

Dr. Davis holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from The University of Texas at Austin, and currently resides in St. Louis where he is Associate Professor of Music at Webster University and is Conductor of the Webster Symphony Orchestra. 

Prior to his appointment at Webster, Dr. Davis served as a member of the conducting faculties at the University of Alabama School of Music, the Petrie School of Music at Converse College in South Carolina, Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, Georgia and at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.  He has conducted celebrated performances of the Huxford Symphony Orchestra, OperAlaBama, the Alabama Wind Ensemble and the Alabama Chamber Winds, as well as being Founder and Music Director of the Rhodes Chamber Players in Memphis.  As a supporter of new music, he led a commissioning project to produce Donald Grantham’s “From ‘An Alabama Songbook,” and recently collaborated with Ballet Memphis in a full stage production of Michael Whalen’s “Shadows of October.” 

Dr. Davis is a guest conductor for the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra for the 2008-09 season, and served two seasons as Music Director and Conductor for the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra.  He is also the founder and Music Director of the Carolina Jazz Orchestra, and served five seasons as Music Director of the Spokane Jazz Orchestra in Washington.His diverse experience as a performer ranges from appearances with the Memphis Symphony to the Amy Grant NBC Christmas telecast and includes the Spokane Symphony Orchestra and the Montana Summer Symphony. 

In his capacity as conductor and performer, he has worked with such artists as Awadagin Pratt, Sandra Wolf-Meei Cameron, Byron Stripling, Kevin Mahogany, Bob Mintzer of the Yellowjackets, Doc Severinsen, Maynard Ferguson and Ernie Watts.  Other conducting activities include work with Fred Mills of the Canadian Brass, the Dallas Wind Symphony, the Empire Brass and the Monarch Brass.