William Grant Still (1895–1978) was an American
composer of nearly 200 works, including five
symphonies and nine
operas. Often referred to as the "Dean of Afro-American Composers", Still was the first American composer to have an opera produced by the
New York City Opera. His first symphony, entitled
Afro-American Symphony, was until 1950 the most widely performed symphony composed by an American. 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 later
Edgard Varèse. Still was the first African American to conduct a major American symphony
orchestra and the first to have an opera performed on national television. Due to his close association and collaboration with prominent African-American literary and cultural figures, he is considered to be part of the
Harlem Renaissance movement.
This picture of Still was taken by Carl Van Vechten in 1949; the photograph is in the collection of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.Photograph credit: Carl Van Vechten; restored by Adam Cuerden