Trailblazers in Black History: William Grant Still

 

William Grant Still was an American composer who composed more than 150 works, including five symphonies and eight operas. .

Often referred to as "the Dean" of African-American composers, Still was the first American born composer to have an opera produced by a major opera company. He was the first African American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony (his 1st Symphony) performed by a leading orchestra, the first to have an opera performed by a major opera company, and the first to have an opera performed on national television. His 1st Symphony was also at one time the most widely performed symphony by an American composer.

Born in Mississippi, he grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, attended Wilberforce University and Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and was a student of George Whitefield Chadwick and Edgard Varese.

Additional information is available here. 

Source: Wikipedia