• Ed Frazier Davis

    composer / baritone / conductor


    Ed Frazier Davis (b. 1989) is an English-American composer, baritone, and conductor living and working in Chicago. He is the founder and artistic director of Vox Venti, a semi-professional chorus which focuses largely on works by living composers and is proudly dedicated to commissioning new works from LGBTQ+ composers, women composers, and composers of color on every concert.

     

    Described as "at once deeply emotional and sublime" (KC Arts Beat) and lauded for its "compelling, […] colourful orchestration" (Musical Toronto), Ed's music is polystylistic and draws from many eclectic influences, from Renaissance madrigals and Anglican church music to postminimalism and video game music. He has composed for a wide variety of media, but as an experienced singer he has a particularly strong affinity for writing for choirs. His compositions have been commissioned and performed throughout the world by many renowned performers and organizations, including Access Contemporary Music, the ACDA National Convention, the Aspen Music Festival, the BBC Singers, The Crossing, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, PLEXUS, and the Toronto Children's Chorus. He has been named a winner or finalist in numerous contests, including the American Prize in Choral Composition, Chanticleer's Student Composer Competition, the Missouri Composer's Project, and the Young New Yorkers' Chorus's Composition Competition. Ultimately, he seeks to write music that breaks established artistic binaries—e.g. traditional vs. modern, accessible vs. unfamiliar—to create art that is fulfilling to as wide an audience as possible.

     

    As a singer, Ed has consistently performed both ensemble and solo work with dozens of ensembles across the United States. He frequently performs with organizations including Bella Voce, the Chicago Choral Artists, the Chicago Symphony Chorus, and the Grant Park Music Festival Chorus. In Kansas City, where he lived from 2016 to 2022, he served for five years as bass section leader and assistant choirmaster at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, sang six seasons with the William Baker Festival Singers (for whom he also served as composer-in-residence), and sang four seasons with the Grammy-winning Kansas City Chorale. He has also worked intensively with Chanticleer as part of their Sonoma Choral Workshop, and was recently an Artist-in-Residence at the Des Moines Choral Festival.

     

    Ed has studied composition at Knox College, the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, primarily with Marta Ptaszyńska, Kyong Mee Choi, Stacy Garrop, Chen Yi, James Mobberley, and Zhou Long. He has studied voice with Sarah Moran, Stacey Tappan, Jim Collins, Gianna Rolandi, and Vinson Cole.

     

    A selection of Ed's works are published through MusicSpoke; all other works are available to peruse/purchase on request.

     

    Banner photograph by Malcolm Cook, all subsequent photographs by John Williams.

  • Compositions

    Up-to-date list of works. Scores may be purchased through MusicSpoke (where linked) or by directly contacting the composer.

    Organized alphabetically:

    —Orchestral—

    ​

     

    • Fire of the Spirit : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB) and orchestra: 3(II=afl,III=picc).2.eh.2.bcl.2.cbn | 4.3(III=flgh).3.1 | timp | 3 perc | hp | cel | str. June 2019, 13 min. Text (English) by Hildegard of Bingen, translated by Nathaniel Campbell. Premiere: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (dir. Sir Andrew Davis); Hamer Hall, Melbourne VIC, 22 November 2019.

     

    • Hymn to Saint Cecilia : soprano and orchestra: 2.2.2.2 | 2.2.2.0 | timp | perc | str. February 2020, 11 min. Text (English) by Gregory Peebles. Premiere: William Baker Festival Chamber Orchestra (dir. Sir Andrew Davis), Sarah Tannehill Anderson (soprano); Helzberg Hall, Kansas City MO, 6 March 2020.

    ​

    • Mother and Child : orchestra: 2(II=picc).2.2.2 | 4.2.2.1 | timp | 2 perc | hp | str. November 2021, 9 min. Premiere: Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra (dir. Sir Andrew Davis); Civic Opera House, Chicago IL, 23 November 2021.

     

    • Pro Defunctis : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB), baritone, and chamber orchestra: 1(afl).1.1.1 | 1.0.0.0 | 2 perc | hp | 6 vln | 3 vla | 3 vc | db. January 2015, 42 min. Masters thesis, Roosevelt University. Texts (Latin and English) from the Mass for the Dead, John Donne, Dylan Thomas, Robert Graves, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and John Bunyan. Premiere: Chicago Choral Project and Chamber Orchestra (dir. Jim Collins), Ed Frazier Davis (baritone); Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University, 16 March 2015.

     

    • Seven Last Words from the Cross :  chorus div. a 6 (SMATBrBs) and orchestra: 0.2.0.2 | 2.2.2.0 | timp | perc | str. March 2018, 22 min. Text (English and Aramaic) from the Gospels of Luke, Mark, and John (American Standard Version). Premiere: William Baker Festival Singers and Chamber Orchestra (dir. William Baker); Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City MO, 8 April 2018.

     

    • The Stolen Child :  children's chorus div. a 6 (SSSAAA) and orchestra: 2.2.2.2 | 4.2.2.1 | timp | perc | cel | hp | str. March 2015, 10 min. Text (English) by William Butler Yeats. Premiere: Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Children's Chorus (dir. Sir Andrew Davis); Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto ON, 29 May 2015.

     

    —Choral—

     

    • At Our Last Awakening : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB), cello, and harp. January 2021, 6½ min. Text (English) by John Donne. Premiere: William Baker Festival Singers (dir. William Baker), Richard Bell (cello), Katherine Siochi (harp); Holy Angels Catholic Church, Basehor KS, 14 March 2021.

     

    • Ave Verum Corpus : chorus div. a 7 (SSMATBrBs) a cappella. September 2018, 5 min. Text (Latin) attributed to Pope Innocent VI. No public performances yet.

     

    • Hear, Return, Arise : quadruple chorus (SATB×4) a cappella. September 2020, 6½ min. Text (English) by William Blake. Virtual premiere: Chicago Chamber Choir (dir. Christopher Windle); online broadcast, 24 October 2020.

     

    • High Flight : chorus div. a 13 (SSSSAAATTTBBB) a cappella. July 2015, 6 min. Text (English) by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. Premiere: The Crossing (dir. Donald Nally); Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, Big Sky MT, 25 July 2015.

     

    • I heard a Fly buzz when I died : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB) a cappella. October 2009, 4 min. Text (English) by Emily Dickinson. No public performances yet.

     

    • keep going… : double chorus (SSAA+SATB) a cappella. December 2017, 4½ min. Text (English) by Gregory Peebles. Premiere: Young New Yorkers' Chorus (dir. Michael Kerschner); St. Michael's Episcopal Church, New York NY, 24 March 2018.

     

    • Libera Me :  treble chorus div. a 6 (SSSAAA) or sextet a cappella. March 2014, 13 min. Text (Latin) from the Mass for the Dead. Finalist for the 2015 American Prize in Choral Composition, Student Division. Premiere: La Caccina (dir. Carling FitzSimmons); Luther Memorial Church, Chicago IL, 6 June 2014.

     

    • The Lord is My Shepherd : chorus div. a 3 (SAB), trumpet, and piano. April 2011, 3½ min. Text (English) from the Book of Common Prayer, Psalm 23:1-4,6. Premiere: Grace Lutheran Church Choir (dir. Ed Frazier Davis), Nathaniel Beck (trumpet), Marta Gulyash (piano); Grace Lutheran Church, Knoxville IL, 15 May 2011.

     

    • Love is the Answer : flexible chorus div. a 2 and piano. August 2020, 5 min. Text (English) by Katie Beck and Ed Frazier Davis. Premiere: Leawood Middle School Seventh and Eighth Grade Choirs (dir. Jennifer Lahasky); Leawood Middle School, Leawood KS, 4 November 2021.

     

    • Madrigal (the juggler of day) : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB) cappella. December 2013, 3½ min. Text (English) by Emily Dickinson. Premiere: common pulse (dir. Lydia Lane Stout); St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square, Chicago IL, 26 September 2014.

     

    • Maria, Mater Gratiæ : chorus div. a 7 (SSMATBrBs) a cappella. November 2018, 5 min. Text (Latin) from the Roman Ritual. No public performances yet.

     

    • Missa Brevis : chorus div. a 6 (SMATBrBs) a cappella. May 2012, 15 min. Honors project, Knox College. Text (Latin) from the Mass Ordinary. Benedictus (1½ min) premiere: Knox College Choir (dir. Laura Lane); First Lutheran Church, Galesburg IL, 3 March 2013. Sanctus (1½ min) premiere: Wicker Park Choral Singers (dir. Mark Tomasino); St. Gregory the Great Church, Chicago IL, 22 June 2013. No public performances of other movements yet.

     

    • Music, thou Queen of Heaven : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB) a cappella. June 2013, 4 min. Text (English) by Robert Herrick. Premiere: common pulse (dir. Lydia Lane Stout); St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square, Chicago IL, 26 September 2014.

     

    • My beloved spoke : double chorus (SATB+SATB) a cappella. August 2014, 4 min. Text (English and Hebrew) from Song of Songs. Finalist in the 2014 Chanticleer Student Composer Competition. Premiere: William Baker Festival Singers (dir. William Baker); St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Kansas City MO, 28 January 2018.

     

    • My Sun and Song and Spring : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB) a cappella. January 2013, 4 min. Text (English) by Sara Teasdale. Second place winner of the 2014 American Prize in Choral Composition, Student Division (with Silver Bells). Premiere: Chicago Chamber Choir (dir. Timm Adams); Unity Lutheran Church, Chicago IL, 7 April 2013.

    ​

    • The New Moon : soprano and men's chorus div. a 4 (TTBB) or quartet a cappella. July 2020, 5½ min. Text (English) by Sara Teasdale. Virtual premiere: Lindsey Lang (soprano), Matthew Gladden (tenor), Paul Davidson (tenor), Ed Frazier Davis (baritone), Thou Yang (bass); online broadcast, 13 December 2020.

     

    • O Magnum Mysterium : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB) a cappella. November 2016, 5 min. Text (Latin) from the Matins of Christmas. Winner of the 2019 Missouri Composer's Project (open choral category) and the 1st annual MidCities Chamber Singers composition contest. Premiere: William Baker Festival Singers (dir. William Baker); Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Kansas City MO, 16 December 2016.

     

    • The Oxen : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB) a cappella. January 2011, 3 min. Text (English) by Thomas Hardy. Premiere: St. James Cathedral Choir (dir. Brandon Dumas); Nine Lessons and Carols, St. James Cathedral, Chicago IL, 20 December 2015.

     

    • Peace flows into me : chorus div. a 6 (SMATBrBs) or sextet a cappella. December 2012, 3½ min. Text (English) by Sara Teasdale. Premiere: Chicago Choral Artists (dir. Micah Dingler); Grace Episcopal Church, Hinsdale IL, 10 February 2013.

     

    • Phos Hilaron : chorus div. a 4 (SATB) and organ. April 2021, 3½ min. Text (English) from the American Book of Common Prayer, 1979. Premiere:  Chamber Singers of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (dir. Thomas Vozzella), John Schafer (organ); St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Kansas City MO, 2 May 2021.

     

    • Preces and Responses : chorus div. a 6 (SSATBB) a cappella. Text (English) from the Book of Common Prayer, 1662. Forthcoming premiere: Chamber Singers of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (dir. Thomas Vozzella), John Spicer (cantor); St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Kansas City MO, date TBD.

     

    • Requiem Æternam : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB) a cappella. May 2010, 4 min. Text (Latin) from the Mass for the Dead. Premiere: Knox College Choir (dir. Laura Lane); Kresge Recital Hall, Knox College, 12 November 2010.

     

     

    • Set me as a seal : chorus div. a 8 (SSSAATBB) a cappella. July 2016, 6 min. Text (English) from Song of Songs. Premiere: Bella Voce (dir. Andrew Lewis); Cliff Dwellers, Chicago IL, 10 September 2016.

     

    • Silver Bells : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB). November 2013, 3½ min. Text (English) by Edgar Allan Poe. Second place winner of the 2014 American Prize in Choral Composition, Student Division (with My Sun and Song and Spring). Premiere: Bella Voce (dir. Andrew Lewis); St. Procopius Abbey, Lisle IL, 21 December 2013.

     

    • Sir Loin the Noble : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB) cappella. September 2011, 3 min. Text (English) by an anonymous 17th century poet. Premiere: Wicker Park Choral Singers (dir. Mark Tomasino); Wicker Park Lutheran Church, Chicago IL, 10 December 2011.

     

    • St. Andrew's Mass : chorus div. a 7 (SSAATBB) and harp. September 2017, 13 min. Texts (English) from the Mass Ordinary. Premiere: Chamber Singers of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (dir. Thomas Vozzella), Deborah Clark (harp); St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Kansas City MO, 17 December 2017.

     

    • St. Chrysostom's Service : chorus div. a 9 (SSAAATTBB) a cappella. December 2015, 11½ min. Texts (English) from the Book of Common Prayer. Nunc Dimittis (4½ min) premiere: Choir of St. Chrysostom's Episcopal Church (dir. Richard Hoskins); St. Chrysostom's Episcopal Church, Chicago IL, 28 February 2016. Magnificat (7 min) premiere: Choir of St. Chrysostom's Episcopal Church (dir. Richard Hoskins); St. Chrysostom's Episcopal Church, Chicago IL, 24 April 2016.

     

    • Sweetest Fruit beyond Human Sense : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB), 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 percussionists, harp, and organ. February 2017, 7 min. Text by Mechthild of Magdeburg, translated by Jane Hirshfield. Premiere: William Baker Festival Singers and Chamber Orchestra (dir. William Baker), Geoffrey Wilcken (organ); Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City MO, 2 April 2017.

     

    • Tasa ja omaette (still and separate) : double chorus (SATB+SSAATTBB) a cappella. April 2013, 5½ min. Text (Estonian) by Doris Kareva, English translation by Tiina Aleman. No public performances yet.

     

    • Tempest Songs : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB), clarinet, violin, and piano. June 2016, 15 min. Text (English) by William Shakespeare. Premiere: Polyphonic Voices (dir. Michael Fulcher), PLEXUS (Monica Curro (violin), Philip Arkinstall (clarinet), Stefan Cassomenos (piano)); Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne VIC, 10 August 2016.

     

    • There is an Old Belief : chorus div. a 6 (SMATBrBs) and cello. November 2012, 6½ min. Text (English) by John Gibson Lockhart. Premiere: common pulse (dir. Lydia Lane Stout), Hannah Wren (cello); Sudds-Conley Church House, Chicago IL, 12 September 2015.

     

    • Through the Wildernesses of Worlds : double chorus (SATB+SATB) a cappella. November 2018, 10 min. Texts (English) from Rabindranath Tagore (trans. by William Rothenstein) and pilgrims in Santiago de Compostela. Premiere: Wicker Park Choral Singers (dir. Mark Tomasino); Wicker Park Lutheran Church, Chicago IL, 1 June 2019.

     

    • To an Early Daffodil : chorus div. a 10 (SSMMATTBrBrBs) a cappella. March 2016, 6½ min. Text (English) by Amy Lowell. Premiere: Chicago Choral Artists (dir. Michael Costello); Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Chicago IL, 7 May 2016.

     

    • The Twilight turns from Amethyst : chorus div. a 6 (SMATBrBs) or sextet, flute, viola, harp, and water-tuned glasses. March 2014, 6½ min. Text (English) by James Joyce. Premiere: Carey Goldenberg (soprano), Patty Kennedy (mezzo), Kerry Hrametz (alto), Micah Dingler (tenor), Michael Mercer (baritone), Ed Frazier Davis (bass), Scott Douglas (flute), Rachel Eid-Ries (viola), Catherine Canale (harp), glasses played by the singers; Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University, 16 April 2014.

     

    • Ubi Caritas : chorus div. a 6 (SSATBB) a cappella. January 2019, 4½ min. Text (in Latin) used for the washing of feet on Maundy Thursday. Premiere: Chamber Singers of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (dir. Thomas Vozzella); St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Kansas City MO, 18 April 2019.

     

    • Veni, Veni Emmanuel : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB) a cappella. July 2019, 3½ min. Text (Latin) anonymous, 12th century. Premiere: Te Deum Chamber Choir (dir. Matthew Shepard); Our Lady of Sorrows, Kansas City MO, 8 December 2019.

     

    • who are you,little i : men's chorus div. a 4 (TTBB) a cappella. February 2010, 2½ min. Text (English) by e.e. cummings. Premiere: Knox College Men’s Ensemble (dir. Lynn Maxfield); Kresge Recital Hall, Knox College, 25 May 2010.

     

    • Wild Nights! : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB) a cappella. March 2011, 3 min. Text (English) by Emily Dickinson. Premiere: Knox College Choir (dir. Laura Lane); First Lutheran Church, Galesburg IL, 26 February 2012.

     

     

    —Solo/Chamber—

     

    • Canticum Elementorum : solo violin. November 2013, 7 min. First place winner of the 2013 CCPA Williams Violin Competition. Premiere: Drew Williams; Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University, 31 January 2014.

     

    • Esoteric Fantasia : 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet in B-flat, French horn, trumpet, and cello. October 2010, 2½ min. Premiere: Knox College Chamber Ensemble (dir. Daniel Godsil); Knox College, 15 November 2010.

     

    • Inebriate of Air : brass quintet. October 2013, 1½ min. No public performances yet. (Recorded privately by Gaudete Brass Quintet on 7 November 2013.)

     

    • In an Instant : oboe, clarinet in A, and bassoon. April 2017, 7 min. No public performances yet.

     

    • In Memoriam John Tavener : string quartet. December 2013, 5½ min. Premiere: Zachary Peterson (violin I), Rachel Moore (violin II), Mark Aparece (viola), Aaron Gottl (cello); Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University, 19 February 2014.

     

    • Macabre Miniatures : solo piano. March 2014, 4 min. Premiere: Jordan Crice; Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University, 21 April 2014.

     

    • The Pillars of Creation : bassoon, horn, and cello. May 2013, 8 min. No public performances yet.

     

    • Starstuff : violin, cello, and piano. October 2013, 5 min. Premiere: Palomar Ensemble (Madeline Capistran (violin), Alyson Berger (cello), Michael Miller (piano), dir. Francesco Milioto); broadcast on WFMT's Relevant Tones podcast, 28 December 2013.

     

    • Sun Dogs : solo piano. July 2015, 6 min. Third place winner of the 2016 NACUSA Young Composers' Competition. Premiere: Jonathan Hannau; Ravenswood Fellowship UMC, Chicago IL, 20 September 2015.

     

    • The Upside Down : clarinet in B-flat and cello. October 2016, 6½ min. No public performances yet.

     

    —Vocal— 

     

    • Elegy in April : baritone and piano. December 2010, 4½ min. Text (English) by Wilfred Owen. No public performances yet.

     

    • if there are any heavens : baritone and piano. May 2017, 2½ min. Text (English) by e.e. cummings. Premiere: Ed Frazier Davis (baritone), MacKenzie Reed (piano); St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Kansas City MO, 18 May 2017.

     

    • Invitation to Love : baritone, violin, and piano. December 2020, 6 min. Text (English) by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Premiere: Paul Davidson (baritone), Joanna Metsker (violin), Matt Winterhalter (piano); St. Joseph Catholic Church, Shawnee KS, 12 February 2021

     

    • Ktoś Obcy (an alien among us) : soprano, baritone, and piano. April 2012, 2½ min. Text (Polish) and English translation by Krzysztof Ostaszewski. Premiere: Angelica Ostaszewski (soprano), Ed Frazier Davis (baritone), Megan Clewell (piano); Kresge Recital Hall, Knox College, 18 May 2012.

     

    • NOISE : mezzo-soprano, soprano, and piano. February 2017, 5½ min. Text (English) by Reilly Donnelly. Premiere: Ashley Burnett (mezzo), LaTeesha Jackson (soprano), Robert Pherigo (piano); UMKC Summer Composition Workshop, Kansas City MO, 22 June 2017.

     

    • A Shining Road : soprano, clarinet in A, and piano. January 2014, 4 min. Text (English) by Sara Teasdale. Premiere: Erin Wall (soprano), Charlene Zimmerman (clarinet), Alan Darling (piano); Civic Opera House, Chicago IL, 2 February 2014.

     

    • Triptych : baritone and piano. February 2016, 12 min. Text (English) by Gregory Peebles. Premiere: Ed Frazier Davis (baritone), Eugenia Cheng (piano); PianoForte Studios, Chicago IL, 16 March 2016.

     

    —Electronics/Multimedia—

     

    • Ma'laach : amplified cello, two-channel fixed media, and video. March 2015, 5½ min. Premiere: Kathryn Tarko (cello); Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University, 10 April 2015.

     

    —Arrangements—

     

    • Campana sobre Campana : chorus div. a 6 (SMATBrBs) and handbells. November 2018, 5½ min. Traditional Andalusian Christmas carol (in Spanish). No public performances yet.

     

    • Gravity : chorus div. a 6 (SMATBrBs) cappella. August 2014, 5 min. Music and lyrics (English) by Sara Bareilles. No public performances yet.

     

    • How Can I Keep from Singing? : chorus div. a 4 (SATB) and piano. February 2017, 6 min. Music by Robert Lowry, lyrics (English) attributed to "Pauline T." Premiere: Participants in the 2017 National ACDA Convention's "Hymn Festival: One in Song" Music in Worship Service (dir. Ed Frazier Davis), MacKenzie Reed (piano); Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis MN, 8 March 2017.

     

    • Silent Night : chorus div. a 10 (SSMAATTBrBsBs) a cappella. December 2018, 5 min. Music by Franz Xaver Gruber, lyrics (English) by Joseph Mohr, translated by John Freeman Young. Premiere: Kansas City Chorale (dir. Charles Bruffy); Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City MO, 5 December 2019.

     

    • The Star Carol : chorus div. a 7 (SSAATBB) a cappella. October 2013, 4½ min. Music by Alfred Burt, lyrics (English) by Wihla Hutson. Premiere: Chicago Chamber Choir (dir. Timm Adams); St. Matthias Parish, Chicago IL, 12 December 2013.

     

    • Swing Down, Chariot : chorus div. a 8 (SSAATTBB) with baritone solo a cappella. October 2018, 4 min. Traditional African-American spiritual (in English). Premiere: William Baker Festival Singers (dir. William Baker), Ed Frazier Davis (baritone); St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Kansas City MO, 3 November 2019.

     

  • Social Feed

    Latest news and updates from Ed's official Facebook page.

  • Recordings

    Full recordings of selected works, organized alphabetically. To hear more, please visit Ed's full SoundCloud page here.

  • Contact

    If you would like to commission a work from Ed, to peruse/order full scores of existing works, or to inquire about anything else, you may reach him either via email or via his Facebook page, both linked below.

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