Director of Music

Bruce Davidson

BMus, GDipEd, ATCL

Director of Music – Conductor Youth Symphony

Bruce Davidson has been Director of Music since 1988 and is in his 40th year of association with the Gold Coast Youth Orchestra. He was on the staff of The Southport School as Head of Orchestral Studies (1989-2002) and Coordinator of Strings (until 2014).  From 2016, he is the String Coordinator at Trinity Lutheran College. In addition, he has taught in state and private schools in primary, secondary and tertiary environments and has been on the staff of the Young Conservatorium. Bruce gained a Bachelor of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium where he studied with Anthony Doheny, Michelle Walsh and Antoni Bonetti. He holds an Associate Diploma in Violin from Trinity College London and a Grad DipEd from Griffith University.

Bruce was part of the Queensland Youth Orchestra program for 12 years including 3 years in the Queensland Youth Symphony under Dr John Curro. As a member of this orchestra, Bruce toured Japan, China, Hong Kong and New Zealand. He has been a violin tutor with QYO and was the conductor of QYO3 in 2019.

Bruce has conducted orchestras on tour throughout Japan, England, France, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand for The Southport School and the Gold Coast Youth Orchestra, and Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic for “Sumire no Kai” (Japanese Suzuki Orchestra). He has performed on soundtracks for Australian movies and television and has been Musical Director for productions including “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Dolly” for the Gold Coast Arts Centre. He is a member of the Music Arrangers Guild of Australia and has prepared music for the Symphony Australia Orchestras, movies and television. Prominent Australian composers including Brian May, Richard Mills, Vincent Plush, Colin Brumby, Andrew Schultz and Felix Meagher, have used his work in premieres in Australia and the United States.

In February and March 2018, Bruce was the rehearsal conductor for the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. He was a staff member of the Australian Air Force Cadets for 24 years and has held the position of Commanding Officer of 222 Squadron and 221 Squadron. After 20 years of service, Bruce was the recipient of the Cadet Forces Services Medal (CFSM).