Anthony Williams

Events

  • Organ Music of Black Composers

    July 6, 2022 @ 9:00 am
    This workshop will focus on organ music of Black composers.  For many years, a large body of organ music by Black composers has been virtually unknown to many organists as well as the public due to the lack of publication.  In the past, many of these composers were not approached by publishers, nor did they seek out publishers to publish their music.  In recent years, a large amount of this music has been published and is available to the public.  This music is useful to organists for church as well as recitals.  The workshop will introduce the participants to the organ music by African American composers and composers of African descent.  Music of African American composers, particularly recent publications of this music will be discussed, and excerpts will be played.  A multi-page handout listing both published and unpublished repertoire will be provided for the attendees.

Anthony Williams
About

Anthony Williams is currently Associate Professor of Music and University Organist at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee where he teaches organ and courses in Music History.  From 1990 to 2005 he was a member of the music faculty at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Dr. Williams began his teaching career at Fisk in the late 1980s where he served as Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers® and was the youngest person in the history of this ensemble to hold that position.  He returned to Fisk in the fall of 2005 as Visiting Artist in Residence following the evacuation from New Orleans, Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina.  As a church musician, Dr. Williams has held church positions in Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, and Louisiana and currently serves as Organist and Choir Director at First Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Dr. Williams holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati, the University of Michigan, and the American Conservatory of Music.  His principal teachers include Robert Glasgow, Marilyn Mason, David Mulbury, Peter Fyfe, and Paul Jordan.  Active as a recitalist, Dr. Williams has performed throughout United States as well as Central America and Europe.  He has also presented lectures, workshops, and masterclasses on a wide variety of topics including Organ Music of Black Composers and other topics related to American music.  In 2018, Dr. Williams served as Service Organist for the 2018 Presbyterian Association of Musicians Worship and Music Conference held in Montreat, North Carolina.