I would teach children music, physics and philosophy; for in the patterns of music and all the arts are the keys to learning. ~ Plato

David Davis was born in Nova Scotia and educated at Dalhousie and McGill universities. He came to Hamilton in 1984 as organist and choir master at Christ’s Church Cathedral and artistic director of the Hamilton Children’s Choir (HCC). He led the highly acclaimed children’s choral singing group for 17 years. In 2002, Davis took on a different challenge as music director of the Canadian Orpheus Male Choir (COMC). At the same time, he was organist and choir master at St. Luke’s Anglican Church and artistic director of the Ars Antiqua Chamber Choir in Burlington.

Davis was passionate about promoting the value of music in people’s lives and encouraging the development of musical talent. In addition to his musical abilities he is remembered for his zest for life and his quirky sense of humour. His youthful enthusiasm was infectious. The COMC and the HCC established the David Davis Memorial Fund, now run by the Hamilton Community Foundation, to honour Davis’s memory and to celebrate his life. The purpose of the Fund is to help provide access to musical education for young individuals in financial need. For example, the fund may be used to:

  • provide a bursary to a talented student in financial need so that he or she may study music at a post secondary level;
  • assist with the payment of fees associated with a music program, (such as the Hamilton Children’s Choir), for a young person who requires financial support.
Bursary Criteria

Preference will be given to a student who meets one or more of the following:

  • a student who is studying vocal music
  • a student who is an undergraduate student
  • a student who is a current or former member of, or is affiliated with, one or more of the following organizations:
  1. Hamilton Children’s Choir
  2. Canadian Orpheus Male Choir (Hamilton)
  3. Christ’s Church Cathedral Choir (Hamilton)
  4. St. Luke’s Anglican Church Choir (Burlington)
  5. Ars Antiqua Chamber Choir (Burlington)

Visit the Hamilton Community Foundation website www.hcf.on.ca for more information and to download an application form..

Read what two musicians say about Hamilton’s need for financial support directed towards music education, in this Oct. 2014 article by Adam Carter: Why Two Juno Winners Say Hamilton Schools Need More Music Money.