Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tina Davidson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
As a classical composer, independent of academia (where many composers used to hide), I decided that I would support myself any-old-way, and get involved with a performance group. Soon I was a director for a local new music ensemble, composing pieces for them and working as a office assistant, then office accountant, and finally as a draftsperson for scientific articles and publications.
I worked full time, but was able to schedule my day so I composed in the morning and went in to work around lunch time and stayed into the evening. Every year I put aside 10% of my salary into a “sabbatical fund” – so I could, at some future time, quit my job and compose full time for 6 months. After 10-12 years, I got my first big break with a large commission from well known ensemble. I quit, and had a year of composing. After that, I was able to support myself through commissions and grants.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a composer and an author. I create music out of a classical music tradition, and write for ensembles, orchestras, and chorals. I have been commissioned and performed by well-known ensemble such as the national Symphony Orchestra, OperaDelaware, Philadelphia Orchestra, VocalEssence, Kronos Quartet, public television, and Grammy award-winning violinist Hillary Hahn. In 2023 I released a memoir, Let your Heart be Broken, Life, and Music of a Classical Composer published by Boyle and Dalton.
I think I have always had music in my life. I have been playing the piano since I was five and composing for over 50 years. As to my writing, I started keeping a journal since I was young ,writing as a daily practice.
I was very fortunate to go to Bennington College, and began to compose as a freshman. Their generosity and inclusion brought me into a wonderful circle of creativity, that self expression was normal and natural, just something you did.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I have always been interested in composing about my life as a woman.
While composing, I hold words in my mind that related to myself and the world around me – not to create a ‘tone-poem’ or music describing a story, but as a way of exploring and understanding myself. Cassandra Sings, commissioned by the Kronos String Quartet, was both the anguish of the Greek prophetess who was never listened to or believed, and my hope for better times in the future. Women Dreaming, for mixed ensemble and piano, was my continued dreaming of possibilities. River of Love, River of Light, a seven movement choral piece, was my understanding of the female face of God.
My interest, lately have began to shift from an inner to an outer relationship to the world, and my gaze looked upwards. What was the connection to the larger whole, to the sky, earth, to the unnamable? From these eyes that belong to a woman?
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
As I continue to compose, write and teach, I am most engaged when I am support others to be part of the process – to see themselves as creative. Sharing the craft, inviting others in, demystifying; in other words, how do I build confidence in others as creative, problem-solving people?
Over time, I have learned to teach to the individual rather than the music. Each is like intricate puzzle I have to solve. I am constantly finding new ways of bending my teaching/writing about music to the particular person’s mind – testing and twisting my knowledge. I talk less. Give them time to solve problems without jumping in with answers. Have rests. Work on my own patience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tinadavidson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinadavidson.music/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinadavidsoncomposerauthor
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-davidson-6040971b/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tdavid508
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tina-davidson-3
- Other: Substack: https://tdavid508.substack.com/publish/homeBLUE SUKY https://bsky.app/profile/tinadavidson.bsky.social
Image Credits
Photos by Nora E. Stultz