Ian Davidson

 Regents’ and University Distinguished Professor - Texas State University
Fulbright Senior Specialist - United States Department of State
English Horn and Associate Principal Oboe - Austin Symphony Orchestra   Principal Oboe of the Austin Opera Orchestra

Oboist Ian Davidson has appeared as soloist and chamber musician on six continents as part of forty-nine international concert tours. He is Principal Oboe of the Austin Opera Orchestra and English Horn and Associate Principal Oboe of the Austin Symphony Orchestra.  In the summer Ian serves as Principal Oboe at the Victoria Bach Festival, Blue Lake Festival, and Solo English Horn of the Bear Valley Music Festival. Other engagements include stints as Principal Oboe of the Dallas Bach Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Dallas and the Austin Sinfonietta as well as Assistant Principal Oboe of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, Principal Oboe of the Dallas Chamber Orchestra,  and Principal Oboe of the Texas Bach Festival. In addition, Ian has appeared as Guest Principal Oboe with the San Antonio Philharmonic, Dallas Opera Orchestra and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

Among his seventy-seven concerto appearances are performances with the Dallas Bach Orchestra, the Austin Chamber Orchestra, the Austin Sinfonietta, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, the Laredo Philharmonic, Chamber Soloists of Austin, Balcones Chamber Orchestra, Blue Lake Festival Orchestra, Victoria Bach Festival Orchestra, the Orchestra of Saint David’s, and the Bear Valley Festival Orchestra. International recitals and masterclasses 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, EAFIT University in Medellin, Colombia, the University of Guadalajra, Marcello Conservatory of Music in Venice, New Zealand School of Music, the University of the Americas in Quito, Prague Conservatory of Music, Manuel da Falla Conservatory in Madrid, Tokyo University, Makumira University in Usa River, Tanzania, Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Villa-Lobos Conservatory in Rio de Janiero, National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, Sydney Conservatory of Music, Ewah Women’s University in Seoul, Music Conservatory in Sienna, Conservatory of Music in Monterrey, Escola, Superior in Lisbon, and the State Conservatory of Music in Bratislava.

His festival appearances include the Aspen Music Festival, the Victoria Bach Festival, the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Texas Bach Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Bear Valley Music Festival, Blue Lake Festival, Mendocino Music Festival, Festivale da Musica Camera, the Assisi Chamber Music Festival, RioWinds Festival and the Festivale dei due Mondi.

Film credits include the movies “Spy Kids II” (with Antonio Banderas, Karla Gugino, Steve Buscemi, Alan Cumming, Tony Shalhoub), “To The Wonder”, (with Ben Affleck, Javier Bardem, Rachel McAdams, Olga Kurylenko) “Knight of Cups” (with Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Brian Denehey, Nick Offerman), “The Vessel” (wth Martin Sheen), and “Simple as Water” for HBO Films.  Among his numerous CD recordings are - eleven albums with the Wild Basin Winds as well as albums with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Soloists of Austin, Conspirare, The Pleasant Street Players, and Trio488.  All are available on iTunes, Spotify and Apple Music.

Ian has been recognized for outstanding contributions in teaching, service, and scholarly and creative activity. He has twice been nominated by the Austin Critics Round Table as “Best Instrumental Soloist of the Year”, and at Texas State University he has the received the Presidential Distinction Award, College Achievement Award and the Presidential Award for Outstanding Scholarly / Creative Activities. He has twice been twice named “Favorite Professor” by the Alpha Chi Honor Society, and twice been invited to present the Dean’s Seminar. Conference and Convention performances include the Texas Music Educator’s Association, Texas Band Master’s Association, National Flute Association, International Clarinet Association, International Trumpet Guild, Society of Composer’s International, NACUSA, International Viola Society, National Guitar Association, Regional College Music Society Conventions, The College Music Society National and International Conventions, and seven performances at the International Double Reed Society Convention.

A featured soloist on the GRAMMY nominated album A Company of Voices: Conspirare in Concert, Ian is a member of The Recording Academy and every year votes on the GRAMMY AWARDS.

Also a composer, among his original compositions are “Scenes at the Ranch”, premiered at the 2012 IDRS Convention in Oxford, Ohio; “Tableaux del Norte”, premiered at the 2013 IDRS Convention in Redlands, California; “Boxes”, premiered at the 2017 IDRS Convention in Appleton, Wisconsin; “Eclogue Phoresy”, premiered at the 2010 ITG Convention in Sydney; and “Pastorale”, premiered at the 2018 RioWinds Festival in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.  Ian’s works are published by Trevco Music of Middlebury, Connecticut.  

In addition to Ian’s work as an oboist, he also leads the School of Music Introduction to Fine Arts Program at Texas State.  The program reaches over 2,000 Texas State students each year, covers all of the art forms, and includes a pair of study abroad courses.  Ian serves as part of the study abroad teaching team and delivers on site lectures.  Annual lectures include “Treasures of the Ancient World”, delivered at the British Museum, “Art and Architecture of the Renaissance”, delivered at the Vatican Museum, “Romanticism and the Romantic Hero”, delivered at the Louvre, and “The Path of Western History as Seen in Art”, delivered at the Museum of Fine Arts in Vienna.  

Dr. Davidson holds degrees from DePauw University and the University of Texas.  His principal oboe instructors include Eric Barr (Dallas Symphony Orchestra), Kenneth Holm (DePauw University), Richard Blair (The University of Texas at Austin), Richard Killmer (Eastman School of Music). Ian studied composition with Donald White (DePauw University) and Karl Korte (The University of Texas at Austin).

From 2012-2017 Ian served as a Fulbright Senior Specialist with the United States Department of State.  And from 2018-2022 he served as member of the Centers Advisory Board at DePauw University.  In 2013 Ian was named “Most Distinguished Alumnus” by DePauw University and in 2014 was awarded the DePauw Citation for “Outstanding Achievements in Creative Arts.”

Ian teaches at Texas State University, where he holds the dual ranks of Regents' Professor and University Distinguished Professor.  An affiliated artist, he performs and records, exclusively, on oboes and English horns manufactured by F. Loree of Paris.