Davisson Duo - LA VIDA BREVE (2023)

21st century musicians Jack and Elle Davisson’s exceptional artistry, skill and lyricism belie the fact that this brother and sister are just teenagers. Since 2017, their thoughtful phrasing, incredible colors, meticulous technique, and expressive playing have earned them a following across the country. Still in high school, the duo is developing a reputation for fusing well-known war horses with modern compositions, creating intriguing programs that present pieces in a fresh, modern way.

Jack Davisson, 17, studies with Christopher Mallett at the California Conservatory of Music. Among his many recent prizes and first place honors are: the Guitar Foundation of America International Youth Competition, Senior Division (2021); the James Stroud Classical Guitar Competition (2021); the Society of American Musicians Competition, Guitar Senior Division (2021); and the YoungArts National Arts Competition, Classical Music Winner (2021). Jack was also a first place prize winner at the Columbus State University Guitar Competition (2018), the Indiana International Guitar Competition (2017), the Boston GuitarFest Competition (2017), the United States International Music Competition (2016), and others.

Elle Davisson, 14, also studies with Christopher Mallett. She is the first place prize winner of the Guitar Foundation of America International Youth Competition, Junior Division (2022), as well as a prizewinner of the James Stroud Classical Guitar Competition (2022), the Southern Guitar Festival Youth Ensemble Competition (2021), the Society of American Musicians Competition (2021), the United States International Music Competition (2018), the Indiana International Guitar Competition (2017), and the Boston GuitarFest Competition (2017), among others.

As a duo, Elle and Jack have appeared multiple times on NPR’s From the Top, a nationally aired radio program, as well as on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk concert series. They have also been featured in numerous publications, including Classical Guitar magazine’s Video Pick of the Week and Sunday Prodigy series.

The Davisson Duo was awarded first place at the 2021 Southern Guitar Festival & Competition, Youth Ensemble Division, and second place at both the 2018 and 2019 Guitar Foundation of America International Ensemble Competitions, Youth Division. They have recorded with Guitar Salon International and performed on the Omni Foundation of the Arts concert series.

Strong believers in equal access to music and music education, Jack and Elle have also performed countless benefit concerts in schools, retirement homes, vaccine clinics and other community centers. In addition, they founded two music enrichment programs providing free group guitar classes—at a VA hospital and a center for at-risk youth—and devote much of their time to teaching.

This fall 2022, the Davisson Duo will release two recordings: a single, Petrichor, and their debut album, La Vida Breve, featuring works by Rodrigo, De Falla, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Piazzolla and others on Frameworks/Sapphire Records.

Jack and Elle are D’Addario Artists and play guitars custom built for them by American luthier Glenn Canin. They live in beautiful Northern California with their parents and German shepherd named Kiche.