Lover of Music - Luke Mc Candless-Davis
By: Denise Zhang
Luke McCandless-Davis, a lover of music and singing ever since his childhood, is Collingwood’s Morven campus’ head of the choir.
Born in Surrey, Vancouver, Mr. McDavis grew up in a music-loving family. Both of his parents were singers in choirs, a true passion, as his father to this day still sings in a choir. Growing up, he was exposed to a plethora of music, which would nurture his lifelong interest in singing and music. In high school, Mr. McDavis loved choir and music, as well as theatre and drama, but over time, choir took over his life. In the past, Mr McDavic also enjoyed various courses in the humanities. Before coming to Collingwood in October of 2021, Mr. McDavis worked for a few years at Mulgrave teaching choir in middle and junior school divisions.
Mr. McDavis creates music spanning many genres, but his main focus includes classical, traditional folk, and vocal jazz music. As choir became more and more part of his job, he listened to these genres less outside his job, since it was becoming so present in his life. In his spare time, he listens to indie, rock and roll music. Mr McDavis loves supporting local Vancouver bands, one of many reasons is because he would be able to see them perform more often and has over time developed deep connections and relationships with these people who share similar passions. Some of Mr. McDavis’ favourite local artists include the rock band Mother Mother and musician Dan Mangan. He’ll be having a concert this upcoming month of May, and Mr. McDavis is looking forward to attending! Other than music, Mr. McDavis enjoys drama such as theatre and musicals, as well as looking at visual arts, especially ones inspired by post-impressionism.; whenever he visits other cities. Outside of teaching choir, Mr Mcdavis co-conducts the Vancouver Youth Choir and partakes in hobbies such as cooking, trying different foods, travelling, and canoeing.
Mr. McDavis’ biggest music inspiration is his high school choir teacher, Ms. Proznick, who to this day still teaches at New Westminster Secondary School. Ms. Proznick was the one who convinced Mr. McDavis to join the choir. He had previously auditioned for the musical, but was not very confident in his singing ability. He was inspired through her openness and vulnerability. Ms Proznick was a very accessible human being, mentor and dear friend, who was always available to talk to. Mr. McDavis appreciated how she prioritised choir as a group of people first, and as a group of people who make music second. Mr McDavis and Ms Proznick both share the same belief that:
“Choir is about building connections with a community of people.”- Mr McDavis & Ms Proznick
In university, Mr. McDavis’s studies focused on opera and solo classical singing. While it was fun, he had no interest in becoming a solo performer, because he believed and still to this day believes that the point of music is about connecting with others while making music together.
The choirs that he has been a part of have frequently participated in various festivals, including: his university choir ―which won 3rd place in an international choir festival in Ireland, as well as ―three other choirs, that won 1st place in the Canadian Choral Competition.
To Mr. McDavis, art is an expression of collective humanity, as it is one of few things that are truly unique to the human species. He sees it as an expression of complex human emotions and personality, and a way to share collective experiences, when making art with a group of people. For example, when singing a song about loss, the interaction among people at that moment is sharing what it means to feel lost and astray. Over the years, Mr. McDavis’s opinions on tasteful music have changed. One reason is because he realised that perspectives taught in high school and in university were extremely exclusionary. For instance, how can the Royal Conservatory of Music, a widely renowned music school, ignore the musical life of everyone….except a narrow range of European composers.
For those wishing to develop their musical skills, Mr. McDavis recommends finding a group of people who share the common interest of wanting to make music. He advises one to simply revel in the experience of making music with people, who enjoy such art forms as much as you do. He also stresses that singing is for everyone, regardless of skill or level. In the future, Mr. McDavis hopes he will continue to sing and make music for the rest of his life.
To Mr. McDavis, singing has always been his refuge, and he hopes that in time, singing and music will bring him new and exciting experiences.
By: Denise Zhang
Luke McCandless-Davis, a lover of music and singing ever since his childhood, is Collingwood’s Morven campus’ head of the choir.
Born in Surrey, Vancouver, Mr. McDavis grew up in a music-loving family. Both of his parents were singers in choirs, a true passion, as his father to this day still sings in a choir. Growing up, he was exposed to a plethora of music, which would nurture his lifelong interest in singing and music. In high school, Mr. McDavis loved choir and music, as well as theatre and drama, but over time, choir took over his life. In the past, Mr McDavic also enjoyed various courses in the humanities. Before coming to Collingwood in October of 2021, Mr. McDavis worked for a few years at Mulgrave teaching choir in middle and junior school divisions.
Mr. McDavis creates music spanning many genres, but his main focus includes classical, traditional folk, and vocal jazz music. As choir became more and more part of his job, he listened to these genres less outside his job, since it was becoming so present in his life. In his spare time, he listens to indie, rock and roll music. Mr McDavis loves supporting local Vancouver bands, one of many reasons is because he would be able to see them perform more often and has over time developed deep connections and relationships with these people who share similar passions. Some of Mr. McDavis’ favourite local artists include the rock band Mother Mother and musician Dan Mangan. He’ll be having a concert this upcoming month of May, and Mr. McDavis is looking forward to attending! Other than music, Mr. McDavis enjoys drama such as theatre and musicals, as well as looking at visual arts, especially ones inspired by post-impressionism.; whenever he visits other cities. Outside of teaching choir, Mr Mcdavis co-conducts the Vancouver Youth Choir and partakes in hobbies such as cooking, trying different foods, travelling, and canoeing.
Mr. McDavis’ biggest music inspiration is his high school choir teacher, Ms. Proznick, who to this day still teaches at New Westminster Secondary School. Ms. Proznick was the one who convinced Mr. McDavis to join the choir. He had previously auditioned for the musical, but was not very confident in his singing ability. He was inspired through her openness and vulnerability. Ms Proznick was a very accessible human being, mentor and dear friend, who was always available to talk to. Mr. McDavis appreciated how she prioritised choir as a group of people first, and as a group of people who make music second. Mr McDavis and Ms Proznick both share the same belief that:
“Choir is about building connections with a community of people.”- Mr McDavis & Ms Proznick
In university, Mr. McDavis’s studies focused on opera and solo classical singing. While it was fun, he had no interest in becoming a solo performer, because he believed and still to this day believes that the point of music is about connecting with others while making music together.
The choirs that he has been a part of have frequently participated in various festivals, including: his university choir ―which won 3rd place in an international choir festival in Ireland, as well as ―three other choirs, that won 1st place in the Canadian Choral Competition.
To Mr. McDavis, art is an expression of collective humanity, as it is one of few things that are truly unique to the human species. He sees it as an expression of complex human emotions and personality, and a way to share collective experiences, when making art with a group of people. For example, when singing a song about loss, the interaction among people at that moment is sharing what it means to feel lost and astray. Over the years, Mr. McDavis’s opinions on tasteful music have changed. One reason is because he realised that perspectives taught in high school and in university were extremely exclusionary. For instance, how can the Royal Conservatory of Music, a widely renowned music school, ignore the musical life of everyone….except a narrow range of European composers.
For those wishing to develop their musical skills, Mr. McDavis recommends finding a group of people who share the common interest of wanting to make music. He advises one to simply revel in the experience of making music with people, who enjoy such art forms as much as you do. He also stresses that singing is for everyone, regardless of skill or level. In the future, Mr. McDavis hopes he will continue to sing and make music for the rest of his life.
To Mr. McDavis, singing has always been his refuge, and he hopes that in time, singing and music will bring him new and exciting experiences.