Vale Sir Andrew Davis

The MSO’s Conductor Laureate died on Saturday aged 80.

23 Apr 2024 15:36

Richard Watts

Black and white image of a smiling white man leaning against a music packing case wearing a white bow tie and formal suit.

Performing Arts

The late Sir Andrew Davis. Photo: Supplied.

Sir Andrew Davis, former Chief Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) between 2013-2019, died in Chicago on Saturday 20 April after battling leukaemia. He was 80 years old.

Davis, who made his debut with the MSO in 2009, went on to became the Orchestra’s Conductor Laureate between 2020 and 2024, after stepping down as Chief Conductor.

Unlock this content?

Access this content and more

Join Now Login

Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in 2020. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association. Most recently, Richard received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts