Session guitarist. Multi-instrumentalist. Arranger. Music Educator. Band Director. Dave Ivaz’s music career includes performing with international headliners, as an orchestra member in Broadway shows and acting CEO of a popular live music entertainment company.
But Dave’s favorite gig is sharing the joy of music with students young and old! One of the Vancouver Lower Mainland’s respected Music Specialists, in his “off” hours Dave can be found coaching Rock Club and Jazz Club where today’s students become tomorrow’s stars.
Each student in our programs receives a healthy bagged snack or lunch – we believe in music to feed the soul, and healthy, delicious foods to feed the body!
Check out Dave’s Resume
- +Touring and Shows
Dave’s long career as a touring and session guitarist began when he auditioned for a featured spot in famed jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson’s quartet. After touring with Nancy Wilson for a year, Dave returned home to Chicago and was in demand as one of the top guitarists in a city known for its renowned jazz, rock and blues musicians.
Other international headliners Dave has performed or toured with include The Fifth Dimension, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, The Shirelles, Ben E. King, Little Anthony & The Imperials and many others.
Dave continues to perform at festivals throughout North America. Recent festival appearances include Lollapalooza 2012 with son Harrison Ivaz, Milwaukee Summerfest 2013, The Vancouver Jazz Festival, The Harmony Arts Festival, The Vancouver International Childrens Festival, The Kay Meek Theatre, The Jazz Cellar, The Arts Club, Footlight Theatre and many other venues.
- +Broadway Shows & Television Stars
Broadway productions Dave has performed in include Showboat, Ragtime, Chicago , Pippin, Altar Boyz, Shenandoah, Grease, The Wiz and Annie. His television appearances include the Oprah Winfrey Show, WGN Noon Show and The CBS Morning Show.
As a show and session musician, Dave has backed up Bob Hope, George Burns, Don Rickles, Carol Channing, Mitzi Gaynor and many headliners in diverse areas of the entertainment field.
- +Music Director & Arranger
An accomplished musical director and arranger, Dave was Music Director of two prominent Chicago Dinner Theaters, and led his Dixieland Jazz Band, The Ragtime Ramblers, at Chicago’s famous Navy Pier for nearly a decade. Dave continues to write and develop arrangements for vocalists and performers throughout North America seeking that competitive edge.
- +Dave Ivaz Music Chicago & Dave Ivaz Music Northwest
Dave and wife/vocalist Julie Boton-Ivaz head up Dave Ivaz Music. One of Chicago’s top event music companies now based in The Vancouver Lower Mainland, Dave Ivaz Music is known for impeccable personal service and extraordinary entertainment. Dave Ivaz Music features multiple ensembles: the Dave Ivaz Orchestra, the acoustic classic cocktail rock of Human Jukebox, Dave Ivaz Jazz Ensembles, The Ragtime Ramblers Dixieland Band, and the Yom Chadash Orchestra for traditional Orthodox Jewish weddings.
- +Dave Ivaz Music Introduces Harrison Ivaz
Harrison Ivaz continues the family tradition of musical excellence as one of BC’s rising instrumentalists and award-winning young songwriters. Harrison’s anti-bullying original song and music video Sweet & Sunny—written when he was 12 continues to be shared by teens dealing with bullying and by anti-bullying organizations throughout North America.
Harrison has performed internationally in Spain, at Lollapalooza, was the winning act in the 2013 BC Youth Week Amplifier Competition, and has performed at major festivals in the US and Canada including the famous Milwaukee Summerfest, The West Vancouver Harmony Arts Festival, Milwaukee Summerfest, “Best In Vancouver” at the Railway Club and more.
Today Harrison has earned his place on the Dean’s List at Capilano University as a Guitar Major in their prestigious Jazz Studies Program, and is the official “teen coach” for our teen Rock Club ensembles.
Harrison does beginner private lessons and loves to jam and share songwriting ideas with other young musicians!
