Julius Penson Williams

Primarily a classically trained musician, Williams also writes in genres including gospel, jazz, and other contemporary forms.

• Name — Julius Penson Williams • Born — 22 June 1954 • Birthplace — Bronx, New York, US • Employer — Berklee College of Music • Website — juliuspwilliams.com

Born in New York, on June 22, 1954, in the Bronx, he began playing drums at age eight, then picked up other instruments such as the piano. 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. Williams attended Herbert Lehman College and Hartt School of Music where he received his, B.S. and M.M.E. respectively. He has an honorary doctorate from Keene State College in New Hampshire. While in Colorado, Williams studied orchestral conducting and composition at the Aspen Music School in 1984. 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. He has studied, performed and taught abroad in countries such as Russia and China. Williams has written articles, edited an anthology, and submitted writings to journals on the music of African Americans. Williams has been a full-time professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston since fall 1998. He is the professor of composition and artistic director of The Berklee Contemporary Symphony at Berklee College of Music. He teaches composition, conducting, theory, and also runs the Berklee International Composers Institute. He is also the conductor of the Great American Songbook Orchestra. In 2019, he was composer in residence for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. People who Williams has credited as having influenced his music are Ulysses Kay, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Charles Bell and John Corigliano. • Illustration — Photograph He is president of the International Conductors Guild as of 2020 to 2021, after being appointed in 2019. He was the music director and conductor of Trilogy: An Opera Company starting in 2009. For ten seasons, he was the artistic director of the New York State Summer School of the Arts.

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

• 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 works: • 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 works: • 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