Julia Davids née Olson (born March 17, 1972) is a founding member and

artistic director An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company or dance company, who handles the organization's artistic direction. They are generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogu ...

of the

Canadian Chamber Choir The Canadian Chamber Choir (Choeur de chambre du Canada)'s mission is to build community through choral singing. The CCC is a national ensemble that provides a professional choral environment for Canadian singers, conductors and composers, and tra ...

. She is the music director of the North Shore Choral Society.

Early life

Davids was born and raised in

London, Ontario London is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River (Ontario), Thames River and N ...

Education

She has two degrees from the

University of Western Ontario The University of Western Ontario (UWO; branded as Western University) is a Public university, public research university in London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods and the Thame ...

(B.Mus.Hons.Ed. and B.Ed.), two master's degrees from the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

(Voice Performance and Conducting), and a Doctorate in Music from

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

Career

Davids is a

performer The performing arts are The arts, arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which involve the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art ob ...

educator A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. w ...

, and

conductor Conductor or conduction may refer to: Biology and medicine * Bone conduction, the conduction of sound to the inner ear * Conduction aphasia, a language disorder Mathematics * Conductor (ring theory) * Conductor of an abelian variety * Cond ...

. As a

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hertz, Hz to A5 in Choir, choral ...

soloist, she is an avid performer, having appeared with the Amabile Youth Singers, the Ontario Youth Choir and the National Youth Choir, Opera Atelier, the Vancouver Cantata Singers, the Toronto Chamber Choir, the Toronto Consort, the Guelph Chamber Choir, the Aradia Ensemble, the Forces of Virtue, the Peninsula Music Festival, the Publick Musick and the Mark Morris Dance Company in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. As an educator, Julia has given workshops on vocal pedagogy with many groups, including the Royal Canadian Guild of Organists. She has served on the faculty at

Loyola University Chicago Loyola University Chicago (Loyola or LUC) is a Private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1870 by the Society of Jesus, Loyola is one of the largest Catholic Church, ...

, and currently is Director of Choral Activities at North Park University in Chicago, IL. As a conductor, Dr. Davids has directed several choirs including the Canadian Chamber Choir, the Northwestern University Women's Chorus, the Camerata Singers of Lake Forest, the 2006 Nova Scotia Youth Choir tour. In 2004, Davids took over from

Iwan Edwards Iwan Edwards (October 5, 1937 – March 4, 2022) was a Welsh-born Canadian choral conductor. Over a forty-year span he founded and conducted several choirs. He was appointed Member of the Order of Canada in 1995.Artistic Director An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company or dance company, who handles the organization's artistic direction. They are generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogu ...

of Canadian Chamber Choir. She served as the final director of the Camerata Singers of Lake Forest from 2004-2008. Davids serves as Director of Music Ministries a
Trinity United Methodist Church
in

Wilmette, Illinois Wilmette is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Bordering Lake Michigan, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Skokie, Northfield, Glenview, and Evanston, Illinois, it is located north of Chicago's downtown district. Wilmette had a populatio ...

. She is married to

baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

violin The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...

ist Martin Davids. Beginning in August 2010 Dr. Davids will assume the Stephen J. Hendrickson endowed chair as director of Choral Activities at North Park University, Chicago. In addition, in 2009, Dr. Davids took over as director of the North Shore Choral Society a 140-member community chorus, has been a prominent musical force serving the northern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, and beyond for over 75 years. She is co-author with Stephen LaTour of the book Vocal Technique – A Guide for Conductors, Teachers, and Singers. In August 2016 Dr. Davids was the guest conductor/director of the Nova Scotia Choral Federation (NSCF) Adult Choir Camp Choir, which involved a 6-day intensive rehearsal schedule and finale concert.

References

Leonard "Heavenly music to hit Hamilton." TheSpec.com. October 17. 2007.
Retrieved November 22, 2009.
compositeur James Fogarty remporte le concours Musica Nova." l'Étoile, February 27, 2009.
Retrieved November 22, 2009.
Loerzel, Robert, "Early music with a French twist." Pioneer Local, January 10, 2008.
Retrieved November 22, 2009.
Loerzel, Robert, "Tackling Handel's 'Esther'." Pioneer Local. February 14, 2008.
Retrieved November 22, 2009.

External links

North Shore Choral SocietyNorth Park University School of Music
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davids, Julia 1972 births Living people Musicians from London, Ontario Singers from Ontario Bienen School of Music alumni University of Western Ontario alumni University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni 21st-century Canadian women singers 21st-century Canadian conductors (music) Canadian choral conductors