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Julius Penson Williams

Julius Penson Williams (born June 22, 1954, in The Bronx, New York), is an American composer, conductor, and college professor.[1][2] He is currently president of the Conductors Guild.[2] An author of both instrumental and vocal music, Julius Williams has composed operas, symphonies, and chorus works for stage, concert hall, film, and television.[1] Primarily a classically trained musician,[3] Williams also writes in genres including gospel, jazz, and other contemporary forms.

Julius Penson Williams
Born (1954-06-22) June 22, 1954 (age 70)
The Bronx
EmployerBerklee College of Music
Websitejuliuspwilliams.com

Biography

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Born in New York,[2] on June 22, 1954, in the Bronx, he began playing drums at age eight, then picked up other instruments such as the piano.[4] Williams was educated in the New York public school system and graduated in 1972 from Andrew Jackson High School, a performing arts school in Queens, New York.[1][5] Williams attended Herbert Lehman College and Hartt School of Music where he received his, B.S. and M.M.E. respectively.[4] He has an honorary doctorate from Keene State College in New Hampshire.[6] While in Colorado, Williams studied orchestral conducting and composition at the Aspen Music School in 1984.[7]

Williams is a frequent guest conductor, and has had several artist-in-residencies and teaching positions. He has received a number of awards for his music.[6] He has studied, performed and taught abroad in countries such as Russia and China.[8] Williams has written articles, edited an anthology, and submitted writings to journals on the music of African Americans.[citation needed]

Williams has been a full-time professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston[6] since fall 1998.[citation needed] He is the Professor of Composition and Artistic Director of The Berklee Contemporary Symphony at Berklee College of Music.[9] He teaches composition, conducting, theory, and also runs the Berklee International Composers Institute. He is also the conductor of the Great American Songbook Orchestra.[citation needed] In 2019, he was composer in residence for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.[10]

People who Williams has credited as having influenced his music are Ulysses Kay, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson,[4] Charles Bell and John Corigliano.[citation needed]

 
Photograph

He is president of the International Conductors Guild as of 2020 to 2021,[9] after being appointed in 2019.[10]

He was the Music Director/Conductor of Trilogy: An Opera Company[9][10] starting in 2009.

For ten seasons, he was the Artistic Director of the New York State Summer School of the Arts.[6]

Personal life

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He lives in Connecticut with his wife Lenora Williams. They have three children.[4]

Works

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Choral

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  • In commendation of music, for SATB (1988). Première: 1988
  • The Spring, for SATB (1982). Première: 1982 commissioned by Roland Carter and the Hampton University choir
  • The Fall, for SATB (1982). Première: 1982 commissioned by Roland Carter and the Hampton University choir
  • The Winter, for SATB (1982). Première: 1982 commissioned by Roland Carter and the Hampton University choir
  • The Summer, for SATB (1982). Première: 1982 commissioned by Roland Carter and the Hampton University choir
  • The Lamb, for SATB (1982). Première: 1983 commissioned by the Association of Connecticut choruses for the 1983 conference at Yale University Premiered by the New Haven chorale

Instrumental

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Instrumental works:[11]

  • Fanfare and Fugetto (1997) ca - Organ solo ...Dedicated to three organ friends
  • Vermont's Escape (1989) - Clarinet/Piano/Tuba/Perc, Commissioned: Vermont Contemporary Ensemble, First Performance Congregational Church Vermont, December 1989
  • Times of Troubles (1981) - Flute and Piano, First Performance: Society of University Composers 1981, LSU University, February 1982
  • Alison's Dream (1981) - Oboe and Piano, First Performance: Dr. Alison Williams, oboe, Wesleyan University, May 1981
  • Serenade (1980) - piano solo, First Performance: Real Art Ways Connecticut, 1981
  • In Roads (trio) (1986) - ca 12, Flute, Oboe and Cello
  • Fantasy on Bach (1984) - ca 5, Percussion/marim/xyl, First Performance: Connecticut Valley Youth Wind Ensemble, University of Hartford. Conductor: Peter Boonshaft
  • Sounds of Colors (1976) - Organ Solo 5', With-In Myself (1976) ca 6, Voice/clarinet/2 Trps/trombone, First Performance: Herbert H. Lehman College
  • Fanfare and Fugetto (1997) - ca, Organ solo. Dedicated to three organ friends
  • Vermont's Escape (1989) - Clarinet/Piano/Tuba/Percussion. Commissioned: Vermont Contemporary Ensemble. First Performance Congregational Church Vermont, December 1989
  • Times of Troubles (1981) - Flute and Piano. First Performance: Society of University Composers, 1981, LSU University, February 1982
  • With-In Myself (1976) - ca 6, Voice/clarinet/2 Trps/trombone. First Performance: Herbert H. Lehman College

Orchestral

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Orchestral works:[12]

  • Songs of Our Culture (Chamber Orchestra) Commissioned by the (Boston Symphony Orchestra) tribute to Maude Cuny Hare CA 15 minutes strings, Flute, trpt, Clarinet, Horn,Tuba,Percussion (2020)
  • A Journey to Freedom (cantata), the john Daniels tribute CA 30 minutes, 3323/4321/tym,piano, percussion, Chorus, Orchestra, Soprano, Tenor soloist Commissioned by the Reston choral, November 2002
  • Midnight Tolls. In Memeoriam September 11, 2001(2002) 3323/4321/Tym,percussion,piano,strings CA 9'30. Detroit Symphony Emerging composer recording Thomas Wilkins, March 16/17, 2002
  • March of the Giant Pandas (2001) CA 6', 1111/22/strings/percussion.First Performance People's Republic of China. Embassy, Washington dc, Washington Symphony Jan.2001
  • A Mountain night recessional (2000) Ca 7'. 2222/4321/strings/perc and solo Soprano Voice. First Performance: Washington Symphony. Biltmore Estates Summer festival, North Carolina, July 2000
  • A Norman Overture (1985) ca 8'. 2222/4321/strings/xyl/marim/perc. First Performance: New York Philharmonic. Zubin Mehta, May 1985
  • Meditation (1993) ca 6'. from the cantata Easter Celebration. 2222/4321/strings,a/sax/tsax/per. Commissioned Shenandoah University Virginia. Performance: Cleveland Orchestra. Jahja ling, 1994
  • A Dance (1993) from the cantata Easter Celebration. 2222/4321/strings/Asax/Tsax/perc. Commissioned Shenandoah University Virginia. First performance: Shenandoah University Virginia
  • Toccatina for Strings (1985) ca 8'. String orchestra. Commissioned camerata youth orchestra. First performance: cw post college 1985
  • To Praise (1982) ca 10'. satb chorus/alto soloist/strings/ piano. Commissioned congregational church Hartford, CT
  • Blues Concerto for harmonica and orchestra (1996) ca 25'app.. 3232/4331/strings/asax /tsax/ perc /piano. Commissioned Etowah Youth Symphony orchestra. First Performance: Etowah Youth Symphony orchestra. Mike Gagliarodo, conductor
  • Easter Celebration (1993) ca 60'. Alto, Ten Soloist/ chorus/ orchestra/ jazz ensemble'. Gospel choir / dancers. Commissioned Shenandoah University Virginia. First performance: Shenandoah University Virginia. Julius P. Williams, Conductor, April 10, 1993
  • Cinderella Ballet (1987) ca 120'. 2222/4321/strings, perc. Commissioned Nutmeg Ballet Connecticut. First performance: New Haven Symphony. Julius P. Williams, conductor
  • Cinderella Ballet Suite (1991) ca 15'. 2222/4321/strings, perc.
  • Heartbeat (1990) ca 3'. 2222/4321/strings/ perc./ piano/ elec/ bass. From the Film Score. First performance: orchestra Virginia Beach, September 1992
  • Is It True for high voice and orchestra ca 4'. 2222/4321/Strs/piano. Commissioned Shenandoah University Virginia. First performance: Shenandoah University Virginia. Julius P. Williams, Conductor, April 10, 1993

Discography

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  • Heart on the Wall, Dvorak Symphony, Albany Records (CD) - released summer 2011
  • This is the Sound of Harmony composition Dreams Boston Children’s Choir - 2010
  • Somewhere far Away, Dvorak Symphony, Albany Records (CD) - 2008, Troy 1072
  • Place in Time,Dvorak Symphony, Albany Records (CD)- 2007, Troy 979
  • Midnight Tolls,Dvorak Symphony, Albany Records (CD) - 2006
  • The New American Romanticism- Dvorak Symphony, Albany Records (CD) - 2004, Troy 704
  • The American Soloist (Dvorak Symphony) Albany Records (CD) - 2004 TROY 687
  • Shades of Blue Visionary/Albany (CD) Records Troy 431 - February 2001
  • Symphonic Brotherhood The Music of African American Composers ,Albany Records (CD) Troy104
  • Fare Ye Well Visionary Records - 2003
  • The Great American Songbook-Berklee recording the music of Burt Bacharach, Berklee recording - 2008
  • The Great American Songbook-Berklee recording the music of Duke Ellington, Berklee recording - 2007
  • The Great American Songbook- the Music of Stevie Wonder, Berklee recording - 2007
  • Love Stories - Julius Williams Conductor track "Violins"- Independent Gordon Chambers - 2007

Musical theatre (compositions)

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  • June 1999, Musical Score "Indahomey"New Federal Theater, New York, NY
  • November 1995, Musical Score for "The Paradise"Huntington Theater, Boston, Mass
  • March 1991, Musical score for "Balm Yard". (Off Broadway). Premiered Riverside Church Theatre produced by the New Federal Theatre, New York.
  • February 1981, Musical score for "Dreams Deferred" (Woodie King, Producer). Premiered at the New Federal Theatre, New York, NY
  • February 10, 1979, Musical score for "Princess Too Tall" (Book by Karl Friedman). Premiered at the Henry Street Settlement Arts for Living Center, New York, NY
  • November 17, 1978, Musical score for Mio (Book for Shauneille Perry). Premiered at the New Federal Theatre, New York, NY – March to May 1988
  • January 28, 1978, Musical score and lyrics for The In Crowd" - (Book by J. E. Franklin) (Off Broadway). Premiered at the Henry Street Settlement Arts for Living Center, New York, NY

Film and video

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  • October 2002- Fighting for Our Future, Principal Pictures/ lifetime TV
  • October 10, 2002, 2003 Gracie Award winner, Yeah, My heart Beats loud, Juniper Pictures (independent) 1993

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c White, Evelyn Davidson (1996), Choral music by Afro-American composers; A selected, annotated bibliography, London: Scarecrow Press, p. 212, ISBN 0-8108-3037-X
  2. ^ a b c "In the news: Julius P. Williams". 25 January 2019.
  3. ^ Faculty BiographyFaculty Biography, Berklee College of Music, retrieved 2011-05-30
  4. ^ a b c d "Julius P. Williams, Jr.'s Biography".
  5. ^ Jaques Cattell Press (1985). Who's Who in American Music, p. 676. R.R. Bowker.
  6. ^ a b c d "Julius Williams Bio".
  7. ^ Handy, D. Antoinette (1985). Black conductors, p. 469. Scarecrow Press, Metuchen, NJ. ISBN 978-0-8108-2930-5.
  8. ^ Berklee Today, Berklee College of Music, retrieved 2011-05-30
  9. ^ a b c "Conductors Guild Officers".
  10. ^ a b c "Julius P. Williams Elected First African American President of the Conductors Guild | Berklee".
  11. ^ "Julius Williams Compositions". Juliuspwilliams.com. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  12. ^ "Orchestra Compositions". Juliuspwilliams.com. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
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