Deb Aronson

Raising a Joyful Voice

Beloved professor celebrates 25 years as conductor of Black Chorus

First appeared in Illinois Alumni magazine in June 2007 under Profiles

The day I meet her, Ollie Watts Davis MMUS ‘82 FAA, AMUSD’88 FAA, wears an ivory pants suit, rings on four of her fingers, piles of bracelets on each wrist, red nail polish and matching lipstick. There is just no other way to say this: she is gorgeous. She exudes a stunning positive energy as well, accompanied with a smile so bright that, as Frank Sinatra crooned, “she walks by and dims the sunlight’s gleam.”

Her students, each one more effusive than the last, says Davis is just as beautiful on the inside.

“She always wears the most extraordinary hats and classy attire,” says Lauren Frankovich, senior music major, “But her interior is just as fabulous as her exterior. She is the most caring and nurturing teacher I have ever known.”

That attention goes beyond the classroom to encompass the whole person.

“It is rare to have a professor so graceful, caring, motherly and wise,” says Allison Semmes, ‘06 FAA. “Unlike a typical professor, she checks on me and makes sure that all aspects of my life are going well.”

Davis’ life started out in the small West Virginia town of Mount Hope. Her father was a coal miner. “I sang all my life. I thought everyone did,” says Davis. In college, she intended to major in engineering at West Virginia Institute of Technology, like her big brother, Matthew, but she soon realized her passion was music.

At the invitation of the late William Warfield, vocal legend and professor of music at the University, Davis came to Illinois in 1980 as a graduate student. She never left. After earning a doctoral degree, Davis became a visiting assistant professor as well as conductor of the University of Illinois Black Chorus. Now a professor and chair of the vocal department, this spring she celebrated her25th year as conductor of the chorus. Davis has built the group into a phenomenal tradition, serving as “student ambassadors” by performing at commencement, Mom’s Day activities and events to recruit minority students.

In February, the University honored Davis with a gala event and a concert featuring music written in her honor.

Whether working with the Black Chorus, performing or teaching, Davis sees teaching and performing as working in harmony.

“Teaching is a performance art and singing is a teaching art,” says Davis. “I inform audiences when I’m on the stage. I’m teaching them something, expanding their musical horizons… And, in the classroom, my job as a professor and a teacher is to get my students centered for study and the beauty and the possibility of music. I teach with a lot of energy, so it really becomes a performance in that regard.”

Davis says she learned at the feet of masters. From her high school choral director, Eunice Fleming, to John Wustman, William Warfield and the late Grace Wilson on the UI music faculty, Davis “experienced a brilliant education.”

“When I think about teaching voice students I think about how Grace taught me,” says Davis. “There was not a set way of teaching. She regarded each of us as individuals. I think that is the strength of my teaching — that I understand, appreciate and value the individual.”

That thought is echoed by her students.

“What really stands out is how much Professor Davis cares about each of her students,” says Casey Robards, ‘98FAA, MMUS ‘00 FAA, a graduate student in music. “She has an immeasurable commitment to our success and well-being. She has very high expectations and does all that she can to draw out our potential, both academically and humanly.”

“I can find something good to say even when there is a lot to be improved,” Davis said with a chuckle of her students, who range from freshmen in Discovery classes to doctoral candidates in vocal performance. “I set the bar very high. But I create a very encouraging environment.”

Her students would agree.