William C. Davis appointed Musical Director of The Keene Chorale

The Keene Chorale is delighted to announce that William C. Davis has been appointed Musical Director. Mr. Davis has served as interim director since September 2010, while Jane Hanson was on a leave of absence. Ms. Hanson, who led the Chorale from 2004 to the spring of 2010, has resigned for personal reasons.

Mr. Davis lives in Fitzwilliam, NH, and is a native of Naugatuck, CT. Mr. Davis earned degrees from Ohio Wesleyan University, New York University, and the University of Bridgeport, with additional study at the Hartt School of Music and the University of Connecticut, and brings a wealth of choral conducting experience to The Keene Chorale.

He was Choral Director and Music Coordinator of the Naugatuck High School from 1973–2001, running a program of five choral ensembles involving over 240 students. Under the direction of Mr. Davis, the Naugatuck High School Chamber Singers performed extensively throughout New England, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Quebec and Nova Scotia, Canada. In addition, they made six European concert tours to Germany, Austria, France, Italy, and Ireland/England. Mr. Davis served as a frequent adjudicator and has been a guest conductor at festivals throughout CT, and at the C.M.E.A. Southern Region Music Festival. He has been a guest conductor at Laurel Music Camp for nine seasons, and conducted the Heritage Singers in Southbury, CT for fourteen years.

After retiring, Mr. Davis directed the Naugatuck Community Chorus (2001-2005). He currently leads a church choir in Keene, NH, and is the director of The Barnstormers, a seventy-five voice male chorus. He also has a part-time furniture restoration/chair caning business, enjoys his 230 year-old family farm and especially enjoys time with his wife, Cathy, and their four grandchildren.

Rehearsals are underway for the Keene Chorale Spring Concert to be held April 22, 2012 at the Keene High School. The program will celebrate the music of American composers and includes selections from Frostiana by Randall Thompson, Mass by Leonard Bernstein; and pieces by Aaron Copland, Norman Dello Joio, and others.