The economics and music major found his path by embracing unexpected opportunities.
Bryce Davis ’20 arrived at the University of Rochester with a clear goal: major in economics, land a high-paying job in finance, and expand his horizons beyond his small hometown of Wellsville, NY. As a first-generation college student, Davis thought this seemed like the best way to secure a stable and comfortable future.
But a music theory class he took during his first year of college changed his mind.
“I immediately realized sitting in that classroom that I would so much rather be doing this [music] on a regular basis,” Davis says.
Inspired by his professors in the Arthur Satz Department of Music on the River Campus, Davis decided to embrace his musical background and, at Rochester, focus his studies on both economics and music. He says the University’s signature flexible curriculum and its connection to the top-ranked Eastman School of Music fostered an interdisciplinary culture that allowed him to explore simultaneous interests. Beyond the classroom, he joined the Midnight Ramblers—one of several a cappella groups on campus—and interned with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO). These experiences helped open the doors to a career that blends his analytical skills and passion for music.
Today, Davis is the associate director of institutional giving for the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in New York City. In this role, he manages foundation and government partnerships, writes grants, pitches corporate sponsors, maintains project budgets, develops case studies about the orchestra’s education programming, and supports the orchestra’s all-around fundraising efforts.
Looking back, Davis sees his career journey as a lesson in being open to what he calls “happenstance” and learning to listen to yourself.
“You have to be open to what the universe has given you,” he says. “You have to be adaptable and willing to take on an opportunity that you weren’t expecting.”
Beyond being open to opportunities, Davis emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and developing habits to help stay in tune with your own values and aspirations.
“The most important skill you can develop, not just to find a good job or have a nice career, but to live a fulfilling life, is to have some sort of practice where you’re actively listening to yourself,” he says. Whether through journaling, yoga, meditation, or regularly talking to people about larger questions, taking the time to reflect can help you stay true to what excites and motivates you.
“At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you’re true to yourself and that you can present yourself authentically and feel like what you do connects to you in a real way,” he says.
发表回复