William Grant Still Accomplishments

William Grant Still was born on May 11, 1895 in Woodville, Mississippi who is an important conductor and composer. He was the first African American to have a major production, both a symphony (1931) and opera (1949) (Biography). Still went to study medicine first at Wilberforce University in Ohio, however, left college before college and turned his attention to music at Ohio Oberlin Conservatory of Music. To gain knowledge, Still “… spent time learning from George Whitefield Chadwick at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston; later, he was instructed by Edgar Varese” (Biography). To start his career and gain popularity, Still incorporated his African heritage and popular musical style to his expertise. This method helped to define himself and use it to his advantage to gain huge audiences and gave him a first big hit in his musical work. “His first big hit, and his best-known work to this day, is his first
Still works used his African and American culture in combinations to create a mixture of cultures in his music. Still used very simple harmonies, orchestra, operas and symphonies in his works, however developed it in a way everyone in the world of every nationality would enjoy. He was the first minority to become very successful as a conductor and composer. Even though being successful, during his time he faced many political and racial differences in the United State because of his minority status, but it did not stop him from reaching his goals. His works showed purpose and passion because he wanted to connect with his audiences and all age through it. William Grant Still, died at the age of 83, on December 3, 1978, but even after his death, his fame did not falter. Still was inducted to the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 1999 (William Grant Still