Michael Davidson

Michael Davidson, Professor of Trombone at the University of Kansas, is also principal trombonist of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra and trombonist with the Kansas Brass Quintet, the Kansas City Brass Works, the I-49 Brass, and the Drei Bones trombone trio. Mike earned a B.Mus.Ed. and the Performer's Certificate in trombone from the University of Florida, an M.Ed. from Centenary College of Louisiana, and a DMA in trombone performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has performed with the Kansas City Symphony, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra, the Spoleto Festival Orchestra USA, the South Arkansas Symphony, the Sunflower Music Festival, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and in local performances with the Four Tops, Ray Charles, the Temptations, Johnny Mathis, Kathy Mattea, Emmylou Harris, Mel Tormé, Sandi Patty, the Indigo Girls, John Tesh, Byron Stripling, and many others. Mike was solo trombonist of Kansas City's own Fountain City Brass Band when they won the 2007 North American Brass Band Association and United States Open championships, and can be heard on their debut CD, Celebration. His debut solo CD, Blue Wolf, produced by Emeritus Recordings, was released in fall 2010 to good reviews. (“Davidson’s playing is at all times clean and strong,” – International Trombone Association Journal; “Davidson’s clear tone and precise articulations combined with his expressive playing of the lyrical lines and detail to pitch make the entire CD a joy to hear. … The quality of the performance and the wonderful selection of literature make this a recording that needs to be in the library of all trombonists!” – National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors Journal). He was a member of the LATEX Trombone Quartet and can be heard on their CD LATEX Trombones, as well as on the I-49 Brass CDs The Spirit of Christmas, released in 2013, and Christmas Day, released fall 2015. The Drei Bones’ debut CD Drei Bones was released in early 2016 on the Emeritus label, also to good reviews (“...the group displays beautiful evenness, control, and sound through extremes of register and varied dynamic ranges. …DREI BONES was an absolute treat to hear, presenting a fantastic idea of not only what the trombone trio is capable of, but also how it should ideally sound.” – International Trombone Association Journal).  Drei Bones’ follow-up CD, Of Hammered Gold, released 2019, earned high marks (“This is an excellent recording that features substantial new literature for the neglected trombone trio.” - International Trombone Association Journal).

Mike was a member of the trombone jury for the 2019 Jeju International Brass Competition. He served on the faculty of the 2009 Asia Trombone Seminar, held at Shih-Chien University, Tapei, Taiwan. He has performed/presented clinics at the New York Brass Conference, the Big Twelve Trombone Conference, the Eastern Trombone Workshop, the International Trombone Festival, the Colorado State University Brass Workshop, the Midwest Trombone/Euphonium Conference, and at state music education conventions in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Ohio, and Kansas. He writes literature and recording reviews for the International Trombone Association and National Association of Wind and Percussion Instructors journals, and serves on the ITA Advisory Council on Literature.

Prior to his appointment to the KU music faculty in 2007, Mike taught at Benedictine College, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Centenary College of Louisiana, and in the Louisiana public schools, where he was the band director at Bossier City’s Airline High School. Mike was twice selected for inclusion in Who's Who Among America's Teachers, named the 1991 Caddo Association of Educators Music Teacher of the Year, and elected to membership in the American School Band Directors Association in 1996.  He is an artist/endorser of M&W Trombones.