Eric Davis

Adjunct Lecturer, Music Education, Guitar

Hailed as "one of the best guitarists of his generation" by the Trierischer Volksfreund after his European classical debut at age 24 (Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez), guitarist Eric B. Davis is gaining recognition these days for his guitar work in mediums ranging from classical recitals and soloist with orchestra to session work in the areas of pop, rock, country, and Latin. He was the first classical guitarist to graduate from The Juilliard School, where he earned a master's degree and studied with renowned guitarist Sharon Isbin. His other major teachers include Michael Lorimer, David Tanenbaum, and Aaron Shearer.

As a classical artist, Davis has performed both solo recitals and chamber music throughout the United States, including national tours with recording artists Trio Sonata—a flute, oboe, and guitar trio. In New York, he has performed at such noted venues as Weill Hall in concerts of Brazilian music as well as with Ecuadorian guitarist Terry Pazmino, Merkin Hall with members of the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, and Alice Tully Hall with the Partch ensemble and the Juilliard Opera Center orchestra under the direction of Julius Rudel. He also performed at Lincoln Center's Focus Festival and in the U.S. premiere of Toru Takemitsu's chamber work Valeria. As an advocate of new music, he has also commissioned works from American composer Eric Funk and German composer Christian Jost. Internationally, he has performed recitals and as soloist with orchestra in Germany, Italy, Spain, Venezuela, and Brazil.

Davis is equally at home with pop and rock styles. He has recorded and/or performed with Kristen Chenoweth, Jason Danieley, Marin Mazzie, Aaron Tveit, Laura Osnes, Robert Creighton, Brooke Shields, Alice Ripley, Lucy Kaplansky, Nina Gordon, Clyde Alves, and Josh Franklin. He toured nationally with the show The Light in the Piazza (2006–07). He performed in the world premiere of Billy Porter's Sondheim revue, Being Alive, at the Westport Country Playhouse. He has played on more than a dozen Broadway shows. Davis held the guitar chair in Broadway's Next to Normal, Anything Goes, and Ghost the Musical. He currently holds the guitar chair for Matilda the Musical on Broadway.