Originally from Sacramento, California, Wayne Davis completed his undergraduate studies, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree (summa cum laude) at the University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music (CA). Two years later he graduated (cum laude) with a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University (IL).

Wayne started his professional career in Chicago singing with the Grant Park Chorus, the Chicago Symphony Chorus and finally, the Lyric Opera of Chicago. His professional training includes the Brevard Festival (NC), Dicapo Opera (NYC) and apprenticeships with the Sarasota Opera (FL).

As a regional singer he sang with the Ashlawn Festival (VA), Eugene Opera (OR), Sacramento Opera (CA), Fresno Grand Opera (CA) and the Festival Opera of Walnut Creek (CA), as well as a full-time chorister with the San Francisco Opera (CA). His roles include Little Bat (Susannah), Don Curzio/Basilio (Figaro), El Remendado (Carmen), The Governor (Candide), Spoletta (Tosca), Spalanzani/Frantz (Hoffmann), Monostatos (Magic Flute) and Vashek (Bartered Bride). Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta is a personal favorite of Mr. Davis. He has also sung the roles of Ralph (Pinafore), Marco (Gondoliers), Frederic (Pirates of Penzance), and Edwin (Trial by Jury).

Wayne stepped away from his full-time singing career when his late wife became disabled in 2005. This led him to move to Texas to pursue the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Texas in 2006. He completed the DMA in Voice Performance with a specialization in Pedagogy in 2010. His treatise, “The Role of the Epigastrium in Breath Management for Singers,” was nominated for best treatise of 2009-2010. Dr. Davis is also an alumnus of the prestigious National Association of Teachers of Singers (NATS) Summer Internship Program.

As an educator, Dr. Davis has taught at Yuba College (Marysville), Pattern University (Oakland), Mississippi State University (Starkville), and Concordia University Texas (Austin), as well as Vista Ridge High School (Cedar Park) and Stiles Middle School (Leander). His H.S. students are routinely chosen to participate in both regional and state choirs, as well as school and community musical productions. He is also the assistant stage director for the “Opera Without Fences” of the Franco-American Vocal Academy (FAVA) in Texas and Salzburg, Austria.

He has been on the faculty at The University of The Incarnate Word since 2018. Besides teaching voice there, he leads the Singer’s Workshop (SW) program. Each year SW produces a Fall scene recital, a production of “Amahl and the Night Visitors” for the holidays and a full production in the Spring. Past productions include “The Magic Flute”, “Trial by Jury”, Virtual “Mini Cabs,” and “Orfeo ed Euridice.”

Dr. Davis is especially excited to be working with the students at Austin Community College. He values teaching and relishes the opportunity to “give back” to the ACC population. This derives from his first 2 years of music study at Sacramento City where he had the most profound and most meaningful scholastic experiences of his career!