Anthony Brian Davenport

Anthony Brian Davenport (5 March 1946 --) is an American conductor and Music Director. He is currently the Music Director of the Bellevue Symphony and the Bellevue Opera. Prior to that, he was the Music Director of the Federal Way Symphony for almost forty years, leading the development of the orchestra from a small community orchestra to a fully staffed professional orchestra performing traditional concerts in the Federal Way Performing Arts Center. Around 2014, Maestro Davenport was engaged as the Music Director of Lyric Opera Northwest, conducting productions of Carmen, and works by Verdi and Puccini. 

Early Life and Training

Anthony B. Davenport was born in Walla Walla, Washington, and lived there until completing the second grade at Sharpstein Grade School. His family moved to Spokane, where he attended Lewis and Clark High School until the 9th grade.

As a child, Anthony began his musical studies by learning piano from his mother, until he was 10 years old. From there, he studied piano with Dr. Hans Moldenhauer for five years until he left Spokane for Seattle in 1961. In Seattle, he enrolled in Ingraham High School and participated in the choral department under the direction of Wallace Goleeke, where he sang, accompanied and assisted with conducting for three years. On the year he graduated, in 1964, the Ingraham Touring Choir travelled to Japan and concertized there for four weeks.

Davenport entered Harvard University in Fall of 1964 and graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. majoring in music in 1968. From January of 1969 to October of 1970, he served in the US Army, with a tour in Vietnam. After returning from Vietnam, in the fall of 1970, Davenport enrolled in the Graduate School of Music at Harvard and completed his Master's Degree in the spring of 1971.

After completing his Master's degree, Anthony decided to continue his studies in Europe. In the summer of 1971, he traveled to Monte Carlo and studied with Igor Markevitch, who at the time was the conductor of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. He returned the following summer to continue his studies with Maestro Markevitch. In the fall of 1971, Anthony went to France and started his studies with Mademoiselle Nadia Boulanger, which, including summer studies at Fontainebleau, lasted until spring of 1974. His studies with Mademoiselle Nadia Boulanger included conducting, harmony and counterpoint. In the fall of 1974, Anthony traveled to Germany and began his studies in opera conducting with Prof. Wolfgang von der Nahmer, who was a faculty member of the Hochschule der Musik in Cologne, Germany, and an opera conductor with the Cologne Opera. While in Cologne, Anthony worked in various functions at the Cologne Opera. In 1976 Anthony was engaged as a repetitor in the Staatstheater Darmstadt theater. He worked there as an assistant to Hans Drewanz, the Generalmusikdirector and Kurt Horres, the Intendant.

In 1980, Anthony returned to Seattle, and took up the position of Music Director for the Highline Symphony, which in the course of time became the Federal Way Symphony. He retired from that position in 2019 and received an appointment of Music Director for the Bellevue Symphony and the Bellevue Opera.

References

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