Delores Ivory Davis
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Delores Ivory Davis, mezzo soprano, is a graduate of Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan. She received her B.S. in Music Education from Wayne State University. She was born on January 3, 1939 to Henry Ivory and Willa Mae Frazier Ivory, both musicians.
Ms. Davis is known internationally because of her performances in opera, oratorio, and performances with the Springfield (Mass.) Symphony, St. Paul Symphony, and Detroit Syphony Orchestra. she is a retired vocal teacher from the Detroit Public Schools system. She has performed in the Broadway musical Porgy and Bess as Serena and in Treemonisha as Monisha.
She began her study of voice at the age of fourteen. In college years, she won a number of National Vocal Competitions including the National Association of Negro Musicians, the National Usher Board Voice Competition, a John Hay Whitney Award, The Black Business Women's Association- Vocal Division, The National baptist Convetion Scholorship Award, the Martha Baird Rockefeller Grant and the Drama Desk Award for "Best Supporting Actress" for her performance in the Broadway musical "Porgy and Bess" for her role as Serena from the N.Y. Music Critics.
Ms. Davis made her debut at Carnegie Hall in 1970 which won her critical acclaim. She has performed major oratorios in New York as a soloist with the New York Opera - Title III Program; was an Artist-in-Residence with the St. Paul Opera Company and has been a soloist at Radio City Music Hall. Singing as Serena, Clara, and Bess, she has performed in the United States, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Switzerland, France, and Spain.
She has studied with Ollie McFarland, Avery Crew, Celeste Cole, Edward Boatner, Claire Gelda, Carolina Segrera Holden and David Nisstad. She was a soloist in the Brazeal Denard Chorale, The Michigan Opera Theatre, the Rackham Symphony Choir and at St. Matthews and St. Joseph's Episcopal Church. She was formerly a soloist at Christ Church and Conductor of the Plymouth Chorale.
She is currently a part of the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where she currently resides. She is a mother of one, a grandmother of three, and a sister of one.
