Caroline Davis to Perform with Berklee Student Ensemble for Signature Series Concert
Photo by Desmond White
Berklee’s fall Signature Series will present acclaimed saxophonist, flautist, composer, and educator Caroline Davis performing with a Berklee student ensemble on Wednesday, December 2, at 7 p.m. at the Red Room at Café 939.
The Caroline Davis Berklee Ensemble will bring its own voice to Davis’s catalog, reflecting her commitment to gender equity, arts access, and music as a catalyst for social change. Matthew Stevens, associate professor, and Gregory Groover, interim managing director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, selected the students and led rehearsals in preparation for the performance.
A 2025 Guggenheim Fellow in Composition and recipient of the DownBeat Critics Poll Alto Saxophone Rising Star Award, Davis is known for her adventurous approach to improvisation and composition, creating music that explores connection, social inquiry, and creative expression. She has released eight albums as a leader, including Portals, and contributed to Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice founder and artistic director Terri Lyne Carrington’s New Standards, a landmark collection of jazz compositions by female-identifying composers.
Davis has collaborated with a variety of artists including Berklee 2026–2027 Ken Pullig visiting scholar Allison Miller, as well as Lee Konitz, John Zorn, Nicole Mitchell, Miles Okazaki, and Angelica Sanchez. In addition to performing internationally, she is a dedicated educator, teaching at the New School and the Manhattan School of Music.
“Gregory Groover and I are excited to present a student ensemble performing alongside Caroline Davis, one of the most compelling voices in improvised music today,” said Stevens. “Caroline has built an impressive career collaborating with some of the most influential artists across a wide range of genres, bringing a distinctive perspective and creative energy to every project. Her dedication to teaching and mentorship makes this performance especially meaningful as she shares her experience and artistry with some of Berklee’s most promising young musicians.”
The Red Room at Café 939 is located at 939 Boylston Street in Boston. Admission is $19.60 in advance and $16.60 for students. Tickets are available online and at the Berklee Box Office.
