Hugh Davidson (composer)

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Hugh Hanson Davidson (27 May 1930 – 14 July 2014) was a Canadian composer, music critic, radio producer, writer and arts administrator from Montreal who later lived in Victoria. He wrote music for piano, ballets, chamber ensembles, songs, choirs and theatre. He studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music (1945–1948) with George Crum and Godfrey Ridout, then studied in England (1951–1955) with Bernard Stevens and Humphrey Searle, and later learned orchestration with Neil Chotem in Montreal. From 1956 to 1961 he worked as a CBC radio producer in Montreal, moved to the French network, and later became assistant program director. In 1966 he helped found the Quebec Contemporary Music Society, and in 1967 he served as music consultant for Expo 67. He worked for the BBC in London (1969–1971) and then as music administrator at the National Arts Centre (1971–1973). He was head of music at the Canada Council (1973–1978) and later a cultural councillor to the Canadian High Commission in London. From 1981 to 1988 he led the Canada Council’s Touring Office, then worked as a consultant in Vancouver. He also wrote music criticism and program notes for major ensembles. He retired to Victoria in 1999, supporting the Victoria Symphony and founding the Hugh Davidson Fund. In 2018 the Vancouver Symphony performed some of his works. He died in Victoria in 2014.