Northwestern Music Student Dies Following Cancer Battle

EVANSTON, IL — Northwestern University sophomore Dominic Davis passed away following a battle with cancer at the age of 20. School officials informed music students in an email Tuesday, The Daily Northwestern reported. The standout French horn player grew up in northwest Indiana and performed with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, according to a February North By Northwestern profile.

Davis, 20, was also a member of the Northwest Indiana Youth Symphony Orchestra and had been selected to be one of the only horn players to perform at Carnegia Hall with the New York String Orchestra, according to an obituary. His love and talent of music allowed him to perform at many famous locations and lead to many wonderful friendships.

Davis was diagnosed with bone cancer in his jaw during his freshman year and had a sizable portion of his jaw removed but nonetheless returned to playing horn, according to the piece. He hoped to audition for a summer music festival.

“It’s not as if I’m not allowed to stop loving music afterwards," Davis said.

Read a profile from North by Northwestern

Services will be held Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. on Moeller Funeral Home, 104 Roosvelt Rd. in Valparaiso, Indiana. A Mass will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church, 1855 Harrison Blvd., Valparaiso followed by interment at Angelcrest Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials were requested to the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra or the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

Top photo:Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University (Street View)