M. Nicole Davis

M. Nicole Davis, Ph.D. (she/hers) is Assistant Professor of Music, Choral Conducting, and Choral Music Education, and serves as Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of Arizona. She conducts University Singers and the University Community Chorus, and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting and choral methods. Her student-centered mentorship has led to national recognition, with recent mentees selected for prestigious fellowships and conducting masterclasses.

A committed educator and conductor, Davis creates inclusive, community-centered choral experiences that are artistically ambitious and culturally responsive. She is the founding director of The Connection Series, an interdisciplinary concert initiative that pairs commissioned choral works with public learning. Recent collaborations include the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum and Pima County Cooperative Extension. In 2025, University Singers was selected to perform at the Arizona Music Educators Association Conference, earning statewide recognition for excellence.

Davis’s scholarly and creative activity explores the intersections of music, identity, and access. She has presented at NCCO, NAfME, and ACDA conferences and co-authored a recent column in The Choral Journal on elevating underrecognized composers. She is an invited conductor, lecturer, and clinician at institutions and events across the country.

Nationally, Davis serves on the leadership team for Women in Choral Higher Education, on the board of Voices for Social Justice, and as a DEI Committee member for the American Choral Directors Association Western Region. At the University of Arizona, she co-directs the UA Summer Music Camp and leads annual outreach events, including the University High School Honor Choir.