In memory of
Victor Albert Davies
May 1, 1939 - September 27, 2026
Victor Davies, C.M., LL.D. (hon.)
May 1, 1939 - September 27, 2026
Victor Davies, composer, musician, storyteller, advocate, husband, father, grandfather, mentor, colleague, and friend, passed away peacefully in Toronto, ON, on September 27, 2026, at the age of 87.
Victor spent his life making music, imagining, creating and sharing. Endlessly curious and deeply passionate about music, he was perhaps even more passionate about the possibilities that music could create: new ideas, collaborations, communities and new ways of telling a story.
With a big personality, Victor was magnetic, charismatic, original, generous, effervescent and witty, with a great sense of humour. He had a remarkable memory and was a gifted storyteller. He could revisit an experience from decades earlier with such vividness and detail that those listening felt they were there with him in the memory. That same gift for storytelling lived in his music.
Born in Winnipeg on May 1, 1939, Victor began his professional life there. He studied at the University of Manitoba, earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Indiana University in 1964, and later studied conducting with Pierre Boulez in Switzerland.
Music was the centre of Victor’s life. During his career of more than sixty years, he embraced an extraordinary range of opportunities to create. From his dance band days, beginning with The Cools, and the Vic Davies band, in high school and university, to more recent times, he moved freely across genres and valued each form of music for its own expressive possibilities.
The breadth of Victor’s creative canon of more than 250 works was extensive, spanning symphonic and chamber music, opera, ballet, musical theatre and choral works; music for film, television and radio; children’s songs. Among its many highlights were the children’s musicals The Magic Trumpet and Reginald the Robot; the operas Transit of Venus and The Ecstasy of Rita Joe; the operetta Earnest, The Importance of Being; the rock opera Beowulf; and two of his best-known concert works, The Mennonite Piano Concerto and the Jazz Concerto for Organ and Orchestra.
His work also included more than 600 songs for the Canadian children’s television programs Let’s Go! and The Rockets; the choral oratorio Revelation; ballet music including The Big Top; and screen scores for works such as The Nutcracker Prince and For the Moment. His score for Honour Before Glory earned a Gemini Award.
Victor’s music travelled remarkably far. It was performed at Carnegie Hall, heard across Canada and internationally; from China, and England, to Poland, and many places in between. His music was recorded and broadcast throughout his career, reaching audiences far beyond the concert hall and theatre.
His compositions were eclectic, diverse and evocative, shaped by his ability to draw together ideas, influences and people from many different worlds and genres. What mattered most was whether the music worked, and for Victor, music worked when it had an impact and connected with the listener.
Yet, Victor’s commitment to Canadian music extended well beyond his own compositions. He gave generously of his time and experience to the organizations that support composers and music creators, including SOCAN, the SOCAN Foundation, the Canadian Music Centre, and the Canadian League of Composers, where he served as President.
His contribution to Canadian musical life was recognized with an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Manitoba in 2007 and, in 2014, with his appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to Canadian music and his advocacy for composers’ rights.
He and his beloved wife, Lori Davies, (d. May 2021), were together more than sixty years and they remained steadfast partners and champions of one another, working side by side in support of their family, their creative lives, and the people they cared about. Victor was the creative force, while Lori was his greatest advocate, supporting and working in partnership with him to bring his many visions into the world.
At the heart of Victor’s life was his family. Victor was father to Suzanne Davies (Martin Kneis), and Heather Davies (Gregory Rose), and grandfather to Chelsea Davies-Kneis (Kayla Wright), and Caleigh Davies-Kneis. For his family, some of the most treasured memories involved seeing Victor’s imagination become something real. Attending premieres of his new works, watching an idea that had existed only in his mind come alive in performance, and seeing the pride and passion with which he shared those creations offered a glimpse into the extraordinary way he experienced the world. He also encouraged his daughters and grandchildren to create, whether through music, writing or simply following their own creative ideas and paths.
Victor’s quick wit, goofy sense of humour, playful spirit, his curiosity, creativity, bear hugs, generosity, piano playing at Christmas and parties, much laughter and conversations around the dinner table, among other memories, will forever be treasured by his family.
Following Lori’s death in May 2021, Victor entered a chapter of life marked by profound change. Over the next several years, he lived with increasing symptoms caused by PLS, a neurological disease closely related to ALS. As speaking grew more difficult, his determination to communicate remained undiminished, continuing through email and text, hand gestures, and brief handwritten notes.
When he was diagnosed this summer with pancreatic cancer, that same determination remained. He continued to approach his days with clarity and purpose, with the values that had guided his life firmly at the centre.
In his final days Victor was surrounded by family. Dr. Davey and the wonderful nurses provided exceptional and compassionate care at the Sunnybrook Palliative Care unit. Friends, family and fellow composers came to visit, many sharing stories of how deeply he had influenced their lives and careers. Testimony to the communities he built throughout his life and to the many people who carried something of Victor with them.
Victor cared greatly about legacy. His lasting presence lives on in an extraordinary body of work, the people he encouraged, artists he championed, collaborations he nurtured, and the stories he helped bring to life. He spent his life turning dreams and ideas into music, and he was happiest when he could share that work with others.
He leaves behind a body of music that has enriched Canadian cultural life, a music community strengthened by his advocacy, leadership and generosity, as well as artists and creators who will carry forward the spirit of possibility, curiosity and commitment that defined his life in music.
The family are planning a Celebration of Life in the coming months, in accordance with Victor’s wishes. Details will be announced once they are finalised.
In keeping with Victor’s longstanding commitment to Canadian composers, plans are progressing to establish a Victor Davies Award supporting emerging orchestral composers, through the SOCAN Foundation. To contribute to the Victor Davies Award, via the SOCAN Foundation’s donor-advised fund at Charitable Impact. Donations can be made here:
https://my.charitableimpact.com/send/to/group/fondation-socan-foundation/new
We invite you to visit the guest book page and share your memories, moments (including photos), and stories of Victor.
May 1, 1939 - September 27, 2026
Victor Davies, composer, musician, storyteller, advocate, husband, father, grandfather, mentor, colleague, and friend, passed away peacefully in Toronto, ON, on September 27, 2026, at the age of 87.
Victor spent his life making music, imagining, creating and sharing. Endlessly curious and deeply passionate about music, he was perhaps even more passionate about the possibilities that music could create: new ideas, collaborations, communities and new ways of telling a story.
With a big personality, Victor was magnetic, charismatic, original, generous, effervescent and witty, with a great sense of humour. He had a remarkable memory and was a gifted storyteller. He could revisit an experience from decades earlier with such vividness and detail that those listening felt they were there with him in the memory. That same gift for storytelling lived in his music.
Born in Winnipeg on May 1, 1939, Victor began his professional life there. He studied at the University of Manitoba, earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Indiana University in 1964, and later studied conducting with Pierre Boulez in Switzerland.
Music was the centre of Victor’s life. During his career of more than sixty years, he embraced an extraordinary range of opportunities to create. From his dance band days, beginning with The Cools, and the Vic Davies band, in high school and university, to more recent times, he moved freely across genres and valued each form of music for its own expressive possibilities.
The breadth of Victor’s creative canon of more than 250 works was extensive, spanning symphonic and chamber music, opera, ballet, musical theatre and choral works; music for film, television and radio; children’s songs. Among its many highlights were the children’s musicals The Magic Trumpet and Reginald the Robot; the operas Transit of Venus and The Ecstasy of Rita Joe; the operetta Earnest, The Importance of Being; the rock opera Beowulf; and two of his best-known concert works, The Mennonite Piano Concerto and the Jazz Concerto for Organ and Orchestra.
His work also included more than 600 songs for the Canadian children’s television programs Let’s Go! and The Rockets; the choral oratorio Revelation; ballet music including The Big Top; and screen scores for works such as The Nutcracker Prince and For the Moment. His score for Honour Before Glory earned a Gemini Award.
Victor’s music travelled remarkably far. It was performed at Carnegie Hall, heard across Canada and internationally; from China, and England, to Poland, and many places in between. His music was recorded and broadcast throughout his career, reaching audiences far beyond the concert hall and theatre.
His compositions were eclectic, diverse and evocative, shaped by his ability to draw together ideas, influences and people from many different worlds and genres. What mattered most was whether the music worked, and for Victor, music worked when it had an impact and connected with the listener.
Yet, Victor’s commitment to Canadian music extended well beyond his own compositions. He gave generously of his time and experience to the organizations that support composers and music creators, including SOCAN, the SOCAN Foundation, the Canadian Music Centre, and the Canadian League of Composers, where he served as President.
His contribution to Canadian musical life was recognized with an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Manitoba in 2007 and, in 2014, with his appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to Canadian music and his advocacy for composers’ rights.
He and his beloved wife, Lori Davies, (d. May 2021), were together more than sixty years and they remained steadfast partners and champions of one another, working side by side in support of their family, their creative lives, and the people they cared about. Victor was the creative force, while Lori was his greatest advocate, supporting and working in partnership with him to bring his many visions into the world.
At the heart of Victor’s life was his family. Victor was father to Suzanne Davies (Martin Kneis), and Heather Davies (Gregory Rose), and grandfather to Chelsea Davies-Kneis (Kayla Wright), and Caleigh Davies-Kneis. For his family, some of the most treasured memories involved seeing Victor’s imagination become something real. Attending premieres of his new works, watching an idea that had existed only in his mind come alive in performance, and seeing the pride and passion with which he shared those creations offered a glimpse into the extraordinary way he experienced the world. He also encouraged his daughters and grandchildren to create, whether through music, writing or simply following their own creative ideas and paths.
Victor’s quick wit, goofy sense of humour, playful spirit, his curiosity, creativity, bear hugs, generosity, piano playing at Christmas and parties, much laughter and conversations around the dinner table, among other memories, will forever be treasured by his family.
Following Lori’s death in May 2021, Victor entered a chapter of life marked by profound change. Over the next several years, he lived with increasing symptoms caused by PLS, a neurological disease closely related to ALS. As speaking grew more difficult, his determination to communicate remained undiminished, continuing through email and text, hand gestures, and brief handwritten notes.
When he was diagnosed this summer with pancreatic cancer, that same determination remained. He continued to approach his days with clarity and purpose, with the values that had guided his life firmly at the centre.
In his final days Victor was surrounded by family. Dr. Davey and the wonderful nurses provided exceptional and compassionate care at the Sunnybrook Palliative Care unit. Friends, family and fellow composers came to visit, many sharing stories of how deeply he had influenced their lives and careers. Testimony to the communities he built throughout his life and to the many people who carried something of Victor with them.
Victor cared greatly about legacy. His lasting presence lives on in an extraordinary body of work, the people he encouraged, artists he championed, collaborations he nurtured, and the stories he helped bring to life. He spent his life turning dreams and ideas into music, and he was happiest when he could share that work with others.
He leaves behind a body of music that has enriched Canadian cultural life, a music community strengthened by his advocacy, leadership and generosity, as well as artists and creators who will carry forward the spirit of possibility, curiosity and commitment that defined his life in music.
The family are planning a Celebration of Life in the coming months, in accordance with Victor’s wishes. Details will be announced once they are finalised.
In keeping with Victor’s longstanding commitment to Canadian composers, plans are progressing to establish a Victor Davies Award supporting emerging orchestral composers, through the SOCAN Foundation. To contribute to the Victor Davies Award, via the SOCAN Foundation’s donor-advised fund at Charitable Impact. Donations can be made here:
https://my.charitableimpact.com/send/to/group/fondation-socan-foundation/new
We invite you to visit the guest book page and share your memories, moments (including photos), and stories of Victor.