Renowned oboist Ian Davidson leads masterclass at Trinity Laban

We welcomed Principal Oboist and Professor of Oboe at Texas State University Ian Davidson this February to Trinity Laban for a masterclass with our oboe students.

The session involved three of our talented oboists – Junior Fellows Rachel Messiter and Lydia Brookes, and master’s student Betsy Selner – performing for Ian, who then offered insightful tips and constructive feedback. Their repertoire included Vaughan Williams’s Oboe Concerto and Pasculli’s Gran Concerto on themes from “I vespri siciliani”.

Ian Davidson comments: “What a pleasure to work with the talented students at Trinity Laban.  Such artistry and deep expression speaks highly of the wonderful music program!’

Student Betsy Selner comments: “Getting external musicians to come in and listen to us play really helps a lot, not just with performance techniques but also our ability to showcase ourselves to a new face. The more masterclasses I take part in, the more confidence I have in myself as a musician.”

About Ian Davidson

Oboist Ian Davidson has appeared as soloist and chamber musician on six continents as part of fifty-five 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, and the Dallas Chamber Orchestra. International recitals and masterclasses include Hong Kong Baptist University, the University of Silesia, New Zealand School of Music, and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa. His festival appearances include the Aspen Music Festival, the Victoria Bach Festival, and the Grand Teton Music Festival.

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) and Knight of Cups (with Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Brian Denehey, Nick Offerman), among others. 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, and National Flute Association.

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, among others. In addition to Ian’s work as an oboist, he also leads the School of Music Introduction to Fine Arts Program at Texas State.  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, and “Art and Architecture of the Renaissance”, delivered at the Vatican Museum. Dr. Davidson holds degrees from DePauw University and the University of Texas. 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.