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Dennis Russell Davies is an American conductor and pianist. He studied piano and conducting at the Juilliard School, where he received his doctorate. He is a noted champion of living composers and modern music including Hans Werner Henze, William Bolcom, Lou Harrison, Alan Hovhaness, John Cage, Philip Glass, Giya Kancheli, Arvo Pärt, Virgil Thomson, and Aaron Copland. Davies has commissioned, premiered and recorded numerous pieces by living composers, along with the standard classical works. His recordings of note include Copland's Appalachian Spring with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in 1979, for which he won a Grammy Award; Arvo Pärt Fratres and Miserere; and many of Philip Glass's operas and symphonies, including the 5th symphony, which is dedicated to Davies. Davies premiered Glass's newest symphony at the 2012 New Year's concert in Anton Bruckner Concert Hall in Linz to a standing ovation. Lou Harrison's 3rd Symphony is also dedicated to Davies.
Davies served as Music Director of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra from 1972 to 1980. Together with the composer Francis Thorne he founded the American Composers Orchestra in New York in 1977 and conducted that orchestra until 2002. Davies served as music director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic from 1991 to 1996.
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