William (Bill) Dávila – Guitarist
Guitarist, Music Professor, Composer, Radio Personality, Producer, Recording Artist, Vocalist, Audio Engineer, Poet and Musicologist.
Correspondence:
William Dávila
PO Box 3359
Idyllwild, California 92549
(909) 553-7327
billinpinecove@gmail.com
William Dávila is an internationally recognized guitarist, whose prolific career also includes such roles as music professor, radio personality and producer (for which he won the Sigma Alpha Iota Radio Award), recording artist, composer, vocalist, audio engineer and musicologist. He is also an award-winning published poet. Acclaimed by the Los Angeles Times as “an accomplished, virtuosic guitarist” and a “commanding and sensitive performer,” Dávila has been heard across the country on National Public Radio, PBS, and HBO, as well as on England’s Channel Four.
The Macmillan Press heralds Dávila’s compositions as “wonderful, multi-textual, a far-out blend of classical and ethnic music creating pleasantly exotic yet accessible sounds.” The Journal of Flamenco Artistry declares “lend him your ear, and you will exponentially enrich your life.” Dávila was proclaimed “Man of the Year” by the American Biographical Institute. He has taught at numerous Universities and Community Colleges throughout Southern California. Dávila has also taught at two conservatories: Idyllwild Arts Academy and Manuel Ponce Conservatory in Aguascalientes, Mexico. He also presided over several Master Classes, including at the University of Mexico and Escuela Superior De Musica, Mexico City. He performed in master classes for Pepe Romero at USC and El Camino College. Dávila was featured in a radio program along with Andres Segovia and Laurindo Almeida which aired on over 200 stations around the country. Dávila gives private lessons in: Classical Guitar, Jazz Guitar, Flamenco Guitar, Blues/Rock Guitar, Electric Bass Guitar, Lute, Mandolin, Piano and Voice. His performances can be heard on his Youtube site at William Dávila – Sketches for Guitar All.
MEDIA EXPERIENCE
Pacifica Foundation – KPFK Radio
Los Angeles, California
Producer, Host & Engineer
1981 – 1997
Hosted Radio Show: Journey Through the Realms of Music.
Guests on radio show include: Ravi Shankar, Paco de Lucia, Al DiMeola, Pepe Romero, Laurindo Almeida, Angel Romero, Allan Holdsworth, Sharon Isben, Jimmy Wyble, Ted Green, Manuel Barrueco, David Tannebaum, Ralph Towner, Struntz and Farah, Donna Curry, Toyohiko Satoh, Liz Story, Lakshminarayana Shankar, L. Subramanian, Lakshmi Shankar, Zakir Hussain, Ginger Baker, James Cromwell, Suzanne Ciani, Paul Winter, Paul Horn, Elmer Bernstein, Bill Conti, Frances Steiner, Faye-Ellen Silverman and many others.
Dávila also hosted a multitude of other programs for KPFK including Soundboard, Straight Note Chaser, Instrumental Music of the Middle East, Thanksgiving Day Special and more. William’s presence extended to other radio stations which encompassed the following Los Angeles based radio stations: KUSC, KFAC, KSUN, KPCC and KCRW. Furthermore, he performed on XENM and Educational Radio in Mexico.
PBS
Los Angeles, CaliforniaMusic Researcher and Performer
Dávila worked on a six part series titled “The WEST of the IMAGINATION” produced by David Kennard (Cosmos).
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Antelope Valley College
Lancaster, CA
Head of Guitar Program
1990 – 2018
Head of Guitar Program. Applied Guitar (university level private lessons) in all periods of Classical Music beginning with the Renaissance. Also: Applied Jazz, Flamenco, Ragtime, Blues Guitar and Electric Bass Guitar. Class Guitar and Instrumental Ensemble. Bill initiated and developed the curriculums for the guitar program.
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Associate Professor
Los Angeles, CA
Head of the Guitar Program
1982 – 1998
Applied Music (Private Lessons) in Classical Guitar, Jazz Guitar and Renaissance Lute. He also instructed Class Guitar and Guitar Workshop. Bill initiated Jazz Guitar, Guitar Workshop and Lute programs as well as developed curriculums for all guitar programs.
Palo Verde College
Blythe, California
Head of Music Department
1991 – 2004
Initiated and developed curriculums for all music courses: Music Appreciation, Fundamentals of Music, History of Rock, Music Seminars, Vocal Ensemble, Guitar and Piano.
College of the Desert
Palm Desert, California
Head of the Guitar Program
1982 – 1988
Head of Guitar Program. Taught: Applied Guitar, Class Guitar,
Music Appreciation and Guitar Workshop
Additional Teaching Assignments in the following Universities:
CSULA: Baroque Guitar (Graduate Level)
Cal State Poly Pomona: Applied Guitar and Piano Lab
Parks University: Art Appreciation
Additional Community College Teaching Positions:
Rio Hondo College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Mt San Jacinto College, Mt San Antonio College, Santa Ana College, Rancho Santiago College, Cerritos College, Cyprus College and El Camino College. Dávila initiated and expanded the course offerings at all the above.
EDUCATION
California State University, Los Angeles
Masters in Guitar, Lute and Musicology
Graduated 1981
Studied Medieval Music Notation and Gregorian Chant Performance with the Benedictine Monks at Abbey St. Pierre in Solesmes, France, encompassing original manuscripts dating as far back as the 9th and 10th centuries. Dávila transcribed into modern notation a plethora of compositions derived from all forms of early music tablature comprised of the following: Renaissance Keyboard Tablature (i.e., Cabezon), Renaissance Lute (French, Italian, and German), Renaissance Spanish Vihuela Tablature, Baroque Lute and Guitar Tablature. Bill received grants for his research and won the “Outstanding in Music History Award.” Graduated with a 3.9 GPA.
CREDENTIALS, AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
California Community Colleges: Instructor Credential (Music)
State of California Teaching Credential: Guitar
Sigma Alpha Iota (International Music Fraternity ): Radio Award
Federal Communications Commission: Radio Broadcast License
International Library of Poetry: Outstanding Achievement in Poetry
American Biographical Institute: International Cultural Diploma of Honor
State of Morales, Mexico: Concert Diploma
KPFK: Audio Technician Certificate
California State University Fullerton: Certificate of Participation
Ingolf Dahl Competition: Winner (American Musicology Society)
Three Tours of Mexico under the invitation of the Government of Mexico
LA Weekly Review: “Beautiful, elegant music”
Hollywood Reporter: “Beautiful music”
US Congressman Esteban E. Torres: Letter of Commendation
Article Published in the Guitar Foundation of America Journal “Soundboard”
Listed in the following books:
Who’s Who in America
Who’s Who Among Hispanic Americans
Five Hundred Leaders of Influence
Personalities of the World
New Age Music Guide
Journal of Flamenco Artistry
CONCERTS (SELECTED)
Los Angeles Convention Center
University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City, Mexico
Escuela Superior de Musica, Mexico City, Mexico
Early Music Center of London, UK
Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France
Royal Abbey, Fontevraud, France
University of California, Santa Cruz
Claremont Graduate School of Theology
University of Redlands
USC’s Arnold Schoenberg Institute, Los Angeles
Bing Theater, Los Angeles
Wilshire Ebell Theater, Los Angeles
Watts Towers Arts Center, Los Angeles
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Natural History Museum, Los Angeles
Palm Springs Desert Museum
Warner Grand Theater, San Pedro
Angel’s Gate Cultural Art Center, San Pedro
Grand Champion Resort, Indian Wells
Orange County Fair
Antelope Valley Performing Arts Center, Lancaster, CA
Self Realization Center, Pacific Palisades, CA
Concerts in a myriad of locations throughout Mexico, as well as, Universities and Colleges in Southern California
PERFORMANCES FOR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
International Congress on Women in Music
International Institute for the Study of Women’s Music
Institute of Fine Arts, Mexico
American Musicological Society
American Society of University Composers
National Association of Composers, USA
National Association of Spanish Teachers
American Music Week (Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts)
California Association of Professional Music Teachers
California Outside Music Association (Modern Music)
Southern California Early Music Society
Los Angeles Open Festival
Los Angeles Transportation Commission: Opening of the Metro Blue Line
Los Angeles Children’s Center
County of Los Angeles: Arts Commision
Orange County Guitar Circle
La Quinta Arts Festival
Acoustic Music Series
Philosophical Society of Los Angeles
DISCOGRAPHY
Dávila in Concert I & II
Spirit Windows
Flamenco Fusion
Dávila and Friends
WORKING PARTNERS
Performed with Jackson Browne and John Mayall.
Jorge Struntz: Fusion, Flamenco Grammy Nominated Guitarist
L. Shankar: Zappa Recording Artist and Indian Violinist with Shakti
L. Subramaniam: Indian Violinist
Rahul Sariputra: Sitarist
Ron Wilson: Drummer
Richard Souther: Keyboardist for Barry McGuire
PERFORMANCES FOR CELEBRITIES
(Private Parties, Concerts, Gigs and other Venues )
Joan Rivers, Alan King, Arnold Palmer, Sonny Bono, Andy Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Lloyd Bridges, Brigitte Nielson, Cheryl Ladd, Don Adams, Hal Holbrook, Frederick Noad, Luiz Bonfa, Hector Elizondo, Dan Quayle, James A. Baker and Hugh Hefner
POETRY EXCERPT
SEASONS
Flowers and fragrances
awakened by Springtime’s joy of re-creation,
while dances and flights spontaneously
immerse into the innocence pervading the newness of all things.
Alas, with the arrival of these ripened and warm Summer evenings,
the thrill of contentment with life’s longings and yearnings
are fulfilled with the anticipation and wonders of our souls meeting,
like the elixir of love running between our embrace.
Seek no more, for happiness abounds with passion,
overflowing my cup by eternal glimmering infinite light
that your countenance and heart
infinitely bestow upon me,
giving me strength to conquer all.
Because being bound by
buoyant beautiful bloomer
bequeaths boundless beautiful bliss.
Crash softly upon the Autumn leaves
and let their colors envelop you.
As gold in the fire,
spirits of muses dance
upon the flames.
Whitened and frocked
by wilderness’ cruel Winter,
the essence soars
towards the shimmering luminosity.