Dr. Dennis Davenport
Department of Theater and Dance
Interim Chairperson
Education
University of Oregon, DMA
Austin Peay State University, M.Mus. in Choral conducting
Princeton University, AB in Music
Personal Bio
Dennis Davenport is Chairperson of the Department of Music at Otterbein University. He has also served as Music Director for the BFA Musical Theatre program. Recent production work at Otterbein includes
The Drowsy Chaperone, The Wild Party and Nine (as music director and conductor). During his recent sabbatical, Dennis composed a one-act opera to a libretto by his spouse Sarah Davenport, entitled
First Encounters: Isak Dinesen Meets Marilyn Monroe, which was produced by Otterbein University Opera Theatre in February, 2011. Other recent original work includes scores for Brecht’s
Galileo at the University of Michigan, and for Brecht’s
Caucasian Chalk Circle at Otterbein. He has taught in the area of musical theatre at Rockford College, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, and Northern Kentucky University. Davenport’s degrees include an A.B. in Music from Princeton University, a M. Mus. in Choral Conducting from Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, and a D.M.A. in Composition from the University of Oregon, where his dissertation composition
The Celtic Seasons, an oratorio for soloists, chorus, chamber orchestra and dancers received two performances at the “Music Today” Festival in 1995. More recently, Davenport’s scores for the musicals
A Homestead Album and Second Sons: A Story of Rugby, Tennessee, received revival productions in 2005-06 at the Cumberland County Playhouse in Tennessee. In addition to serving as Otterbein liaison for the Westerville Symphony, Dennis plays keyboard in the orchestra. Dr. Davenport also serves as organist/pianist at Church of the Master United Methodist in Westerville.