He was a composer, pianist and organist who was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Price (1966) for music. George Walker was born in 1922 in Washington D.C. His music was heard in films such as Pennies from Heaven that starred Bing Crosby. Still conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in 1936. “Believe it not, his music was the most popular of any American composer between the end of World War II and around 1950.” His piece titled “The Afro American Symphony” was performed by Howard Hanson of the Rochester Philharmonic. Still was the first African American whose work was performed by a major orchestra. Zimmerman describes William Grant Still as, “The father of the African American composer.” He composed about 200 works, including five symphonies and four ballets.

William Grant Still was born in 1895 in Woodville, Mississippi but grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. Price’s career took her to Chicago where her first symphony was included in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s program. Price composed more than 300 works, including four symphonies and four concertos. It was the Wannamaker competition for composition and she won for her symphony number one in e-minor.” “She was really unknown when she was growing up' according to Zimmerman. Her music was performed by the Chicago Symphony in 1933. She was the first African American woman to ever have their music played by a major symphony orchestra. She was a classical composer, pianist, organist and music teacher. Breaking barriersįlorence Price was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1887. He began composing in 1999, which offered more opportunity to showcase his music to a larger audience.

Robinson has won invitations to arrange, perform, conduct and publish more than one hundred symphonic works throughout his career. So, he resigned from the Detroit Symphony and he’s now known as Mr. “He felt like classical music wasn’t doing enough to get to many people, ok. CutTime combines classical music with jazz. After years playing bass for various symphonies, he formed his own music company, CutTime Productions. Zimmermann calls Rick Robinson a close friend. Rick Robinson, Florence Price, William Grant Still and George Walker. Ron Ponder, a long-time journalist and former president of the Stark County chapter of the NAACP, reached out to the conductor of Canton Symphony Orchestra, Gerhardt Zimmermann to talk about four composers who deserve the spotlight. The Canton Symphony Orchestra is among those who’ve worked to make classical music a more welcoming place for previously ignored communities. But orchestras across the country are recognizing that must change. Historically, Black composers have all too often been left out of the classical music narrative.

Ohio state symphonic orchestra schedule