Biography
Sally Davies is a composer, choir leader and multi-instrumentalist influenced by traditional and folk music from around the world.
Originally trained at Dartington College in Devon in drama and dance, Sally Davies has a professional background in theatre as an actor, dancer, acrobat and instrumentalist. She wrote music for the shows she was preforming in and subsequently took on numerous music projects for a variety of dance and theatre companies. Her work has been performed at Sadlers Wells, the Southbank Centre, the British Library and at festivals in Dublin, Tbilisi, Edinburgh, Oslo and Berlin.
She has a Master’s degree in composition and ethnomusicology specializing in the Balkan states of Former Yugoslavia and her musical scores are often influenced by traditional folk music.
Bow and Bellows, the duo she set up with Martina Schwarz in 2000 play their own takes on Balkan, Klezmer, French and gypsy music. She plays fiddle, baritone horn and sopranino recorder as well as singing.
She is director of two choirs for which she sources a varied repertoire. They give regular performances at home and abroad and each choir has a unique sound brought about by the broad sphere of music Sally has worked in and the passion she has for unusual and special harmonies. The Wing-It Singers sing songs from many world traditions but specialize in Georgian, Balkan and Eastern European songs. The Cecil Sharp House Choir sings mainly Sally’s own arrangements of songs from the British Isles plus a few from other folk traditions.
Her book ‘Lovers, Legends and Laments – Folk Songs of the British Isles’ draws a vast reservoir of songs that have survived the centuries into a collection of compelling arrangements with unpredictable harmonies.
Sally also runs one-off workshops and regularly ‘guest teaches’ at other people’s choirs and singing festivals including Raise the Roof, World of Song, Winchester Community Choir, Alton Community Choir, Sing Fest etc.
She believes passionately that it is everyone’s birthright to sing and that it is never too late to join a choir and to find or develop your voice.
