Faculty and Guest Artist Chamber Recital

ABOUT DAVIS BROOKS

Violinist Davis Brooks comes from a diverse musical background as soloist, pedagogue, orchestral musician, studio musician, concertmaster on Broadway, conductor, and chamber musician. Having recently served as Associate Concertmaster of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra for fifteen years, Dr. Brooks was also a member of the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra at Lincoln Center for ten years. For nineteen years, he played in the New York Chamber Symphony, which produced over twenty critically acclaimed recordings during his tenure. Dr. Brooks has been concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra of New England, the Harrisburg Symphony, and the Waco Symphony. He performs frequently with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and is active in the many commercial recording studios in the Indianapolis area. As a soloist, Dr. Brooks has concertized in China, Japan, Europe, and South America. 

At Yale University, where he received a master’s degree in violin performance, Dr. Brooks studied with Broadus Erle and Syoko Aki. His doctorate, also in violin performance, is from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Other important teachers with whom he has studied include Joyce Robbins, George Neikrug, Russell Hatz, and Raymond Page; he has studied chamber music with Julius Levine, Josef Gingold, Aldo Parisot, and members of the Tokyo, Alard, and Guarneri Quartets.

Recording four CDs with the progressive rock band The Psychedelic Ensemble has been a most pleasurable diversion, as has performing with the Indianapolis band Progressive Lenses. He has performed with numerous bands including the Eagles, The Who, Barry Manilow, Rod Stewart, Chicago, Johnny Mathis, Bob and Tom, the Moody Blues, Christopher Cross, Page and Plant, Electric Light Orchestra, and Barry White and the Love Unlimited Orchestra. He has also recorded with Arlo Guthrie. Oddly his favorite color has changed from blue to green in the last decade, and he enjoys a good cup of coffee.

“Brooks is a committed and persuasive advocate for the works throughout, adapting his impressive playing to the composers’ diverse demands.” The Strad.