Quick Facts
- Known as “Dean of Afro-American Composers”
- Was a part of the Harlem Renaissance
- First African American to:
- conduct an American symphony orchestra
- have a symphony performed by an orchestra (“Afro-American Symphony”)
- have an opera performed by the New York City Opera
- have an opera broadcast on television
- Born in Mississippi, grew up in Arkansas (U.S.)
- Learned the violin as a teenager, later taught himself viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, oboe, and saxophone
YouTube
- William Grant Still poster (PDF)