DAVY, Ruby Claudia Emily

Ruby Claudia Emily Davy was an Australian pianist, composer and educator.

In her first year of her Doctorate, Ruby studied a number of music subjects, including harmony, counterpoint and double counterpoint, fugue, instrumentation, history of music and musical analysis. While continuing to study piano throughout her doctorate, after gaining permission from the University Council to do so, Ruby also expanded her repertoire of instruments by studying the violin, clarinet, oboe, trumpet, flute, bassoon, French horn, trombone, kettle drums as well as other percussion instruments. This extensive repertoire of instruments served Ruby well in her final doctoral composition of an Oratorio, Hymn of Praise, for double choir, solo voices, organ and a full orchestra. This composition received high praise by her examiners who admired its composer’s ingenuity, ability and resource to produce a piece of music that clearly demonstrated exceptional musicality and high academic skill.

Upon her graduation in 1918, Ruby achieved the historic achievement of becoming the first woman in Australia to receive a Doctorate of Music, a feat that would not be replicated by a woman for another fifty-eight years.

Ruby also established The Society of Women Musicians of Australia (SWMA). The society aimed to increase the status of female musicians and to enable them and their works to be heard more frequently by the public and to provide financial support for the presentation of all forms of art.