04/24/2026
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Allison Davis to the Irving S. Gilmore School of Music Faculty!
Dr. Allison Davis holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education from the University of Missouri with a Cognate in Wind Conducting and Band Pedagogy, a Master of Music in Music Education with a Specialization in Wind Conducting from Bowling Green State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Bowling Green State University. She recently served as Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she taught music education courses and conducted the Symphonic Winds band ensemble. Dr. Davis has had the pleasure of studying with Dr. Brian Silvey, Dr. Wendy Sims, Dr. Amy Knopps, Dr. Lisa Martin, and Dr. Ken Thompson.
Prior to her university teaching experience, Dr. Davis taught a combination of secondary band, choir, general music, and marching band in the public schools of Ohio and Missouri. Due to her time spent with diverse student populations, she prioritizes inclusive pedagogy and advocates for the performance of contemporary music by marginalized composers. Ensembles under Dr. Davis’s direction have premiered works by Cory Brodack, Mat Campbell, Emilio José González, and Yoell Tewolde, and she has worked closely with other acclaimed composers including
Katahj Copley, Kevin Day, Grace Baugher Dunlap, Kelijah Dunton, Roshanne Etezady, and Jennifer Jolley. She actively integrates technology in both lecture-based and ensemble-rehearsal settings, including utilizing ForScore in full ensemble rehearsals and frequently hosting collaborative sessions with composers both in person and on Zoom to create a more interactive and enhanced student experience.
Dr. Davis’s primary areas of research include instrumental conducting and rehearsal techniques, preservice music educator development, curriculum analysis, repertoire selection, and democratic practices in large ensemble settings. Her most recent publication, “A Content Analysis of Journal of Popular Music Education Articles (2017-2024),” analyzed the article types, participants, and topics represented in JPME articles beginning at the time of the journal’s inception. She has also had research published in Psychology of Music and the Missouri Journal
of Research in Music Education. Dr. Davis is an active presenter in state, national, and international research settings and is a reviewer for multiple academic journals.
In addition to her full-time academic work, Dr. Davis regularly serves as an adjudicator, clinician, and music arranger for students of all ability levels and age ranges around the country. She has been affiliated with the Association for Popular Music Education, College Band Directors National Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, Missouri Music Educators Association, Michigan Music Educators Association, Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, Music Will, National Association for Music Education, National Band Association, Ohio Music Educators Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Texas Music Educators Association. Dr. Davis is
excited to continue her work in music education and scholarship as a faculty member at Western Michigan University, where she looks forward to fostering inclusive, innovative, and collaborative musical experiences for future educators and performers. Go Broncos!
