The Sydney Conservatorium of Music welcomes Grammy award-winning pianist and composer Kris Davis for a residency offering jazz students the opportunity to learn directly from one of contemporary jazz’s leading creative voices.
Through workshops, ensemble rehearsals, discussions and collaborative music-making, jazz students will gain insight into Davis’ approach to improvisation and composition, developing their musical practice through direct engagement with an internationally recognised artist.
Davis is Associate Program Director of Creative Development at Berklee’s Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice and founder of Pyroclastic Records. Her work across performance, education and independent music publishing offers students insight into the many dimensions of a contemporary creative career.
A defining feature of the residency is the opportunity for students to work with Davis over an extended period to develop their musical practice through sustained engagement and mentorship.
Jazz students will explore Davis’ compositions under her guidance, preparing and rehearsing the music before presenting her works in a public performance on Thursday 29 October, 7.30 pm.
Working directly with the composer will give students insight into her creative intentions, compositional processes and approach to performance, while encouraging them to develop their own interpretations.
Davis will also lead an interactive workshop for students with her trio, featuring internationally respected bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Jonathan Blake.
The Kris Davis Trio “Run the Gauntlet” Robert Hurst, Kris Davis and Johnathan Blake. Photo credit: Adrian Ruiz Hierro.
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LinkStudents will explore ensemble communication, improvisation, repertoire development and collaborative artistic practice with three internationally active musicians.
These experiences will help students deepen their understanding of contemporary jazz, strengthen their musical confidence and connect their studies with professional performance practice.
Beyond the rehearsal room and performance stage, Davis’ residency will create opportunities for broader conversations about music education, equity and research.
Discussions with Conservatorium staff will explore deeper collaborative opportunities between the Con’s Equity in Jazz initiatives and Berklee’s Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, creating opportunities for further knowledge sharing and connection between the two institutions.
Davis will also present the prestigious Hook Lecture on Friday 30 October 7 pm, offering the audience an opportunity to engage with her work through a scholarly lens.
The lecture-recital format highlights the connections between creative practice, research and critical inquiry, demonstrating how contemporary musicians contribute to the field through performance, teaching and public discourse.
Experience Kris Davis at the Con
Audiences can experience Davis’ work through three events hosted at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, CBD Campus:
The residency is generously supported through the Anthony and Sharon Lee Foundation’s Equity in Jazz program.