Life and Works of William Dawson - Essay Example

In 1921, he graduated with top honours from Tuskegee. He did not stop at that, in 1925 he earned a bachelor’s degree from Horner Institute that was in Kansas City. William had a social life he married Cecile, who was his wife after a second marriage his first wife died in 1927 (Johnson, 1999).

From 1926-1927, William was the principal trombonist at Chicago Civic Orchestra, and he also composed a folk symphony while he was a music director of the Tuskegee Institute. He made many choral compositions and even arranged for American-African spirituals in 1934. In the same year, he organized the Tuskegee choir to perform for the U.S. president. In building his career, he won several awards that include Chicago Daily News which was held in 1929. In 1930, he won the Wanamaker contest prizes (Johnson, 1999). Tuskegee Institute also awarded him with an honorary doctorate. In 1955, he was named to Alabama Arts. During his time as a principal trombonist in Chicago, he attended composition classes and graduated with a master’s degree. He shifted to New York to study music and returned to Tuskegee to direct music, and he created a new music school. He worked at this Institute until 1955 when he retired.

William achieved many awards and under his leadership, the Tuskegee Choir become famous the choir travelled to major venues in the North-eastern where they sang spiritual and other music. With their enthusiastic performance, both Presidents Herbert and Franklin organised for this choir to perform in their homes. The U.S. State Department influenced the choir to tour russia, Europe and England. Williams Negro Folk Symptom which he wrote in 1931 was sent to Stowisks way after this work impressed a financier from New York after watching performances by Tuskegee. It was an achievement for William since this symphony was the first done by an African-American musician and had an opportunity of being premiered by an American orchestra that was majorly known. The ancient voice of Africa transferred to America was how this work was described. It used a spiritually influenced language and some modern elements.

His career progressed while at Tuskegee, and he not only was a music director but he also became a leader, a lecturer, a panellist at music education conferences and a guest of good conduct. The most widely enjoyed work was the Negro song that aired on both radio and television. Even after his retirement, he still directed choirs in Spain and Fisk University. He attended choral festivals at the nationals and directed these concerts. In 1966, he directed the guest appearance in Nashville Symphony Orchestras. He was honoured with a plethora of honorary degrees. In 1990, during his 90th birthday, he led the Tuskegee Choir reunion performance (Floyd, 1990).

At the pioneer institute of higher education, he found it hard to cope being a small-town boy. The difference in the social classes was quite hard for him to survive having no money to eat at the high table like others at the dining table. However, Booker T Washington helped him secure a job in the agricultural department at school. Despite the many awards William had worn, it was still difficult for him to be admitted to attend classes in music programs this was because of the segregation in black schools that were in Kansas City. However, segregation was done at Horner institute a white institute (Dawson, 2001). During a white classical musician performance, a piece William had composed was also performed and it was well received on the occasion with this achievement he still was not allowed to take the stage during the graduation.

William Dawson was a well-celebrated composer who impacted music during his musical life he managed to win various awards and also brought change to music. Since he travelled to many places in the world, his impact on music was therefore not based in the U.K. only, but everywhere he went. He had little controversy that was created due to his African-American origin. His music was enjoyed by both blacks and whites he sang to all groups of people, and this is what popularized his music career (Dawson, 2001).