Steven Dennis Bodner (1975-2011) was Music Director of the Symphonic Winds and Opus Zero Band at Williams College, where he also taught classical saxophone, coached chamber music, and taught classes in music fundamentals and aural skills acquisition.He earned a B.A. in philosophy and a B.M. in saxophone performance from Miami (OH) University in 1997, and a M.M. in wind ensemble conducting with academic honors... Continue reading »
[Emeritus Faculty] Our dear friend and colleague Ernest D. Brown Jr., Professor of Music at Williams College from 1988 until his retirement this past December 2011, passed away on April 3, 2012, after a long illness. As a teacher, performer, and scholar, he dedicated his life to the exploration and celebration of African and African-American musics, introducing countless members of our community to music and musicians little known in the Berkshires before his arrival here 24 years ago. Continue reading »
[Emeritus Faculty] Since the 1968 premiere of Second Composition for Large Orchestra by the Seattle Symphony, David Kechley has produced works in all genres. His music draws from a variety of sources including the “usual suspects” of twentieth century concert music, concert composers from the more distant past and present, and many forms of vernacular, popular, and ethnic musics. Although these influences are generally integrated into a consistent style, the resulting musical narratives often create sharp contrasts between lyricism, virtuosity, and dramatic gesture. Continue reading »
[Emeritus Faculty] Cellist Douglas Moore, a native of Iowa, was the Mary A. and William Wirt Warren Professor of Music. He was at Williams from 1970 to 2007, and served as department chairman from 1979 to 1986, 1995 to 1997 and 2001-2002. Continue reading »
[Emeritus Faculty – Citation read at ceremony of retirement, Williams College, Office of the President] “You gave this College the joyful and profound gift of music. You performed for decades with the Williams Trio and Music in the Round, as an accompanist and as organist at major College events. Continue reading »
[Emeritus Faculty] The earth beneath the college tilted yesterday with the death of Irwin Shainman, Class of 1955 Professor of Music, Emeritus, and a fixture here almost continuously since his arrival in 1948. A bugler for his Boy Scout troop in the Bronx, he went on to earn the Premier Prix in trumpet at the Paris Conservatory. He played professionally in and around New York City, but, as he told it, while crouching in a fox hole in eastern France during World War II, where he earned two Purple Hearts, he said to a buddy in the next hole, “If I ever get out of this alive, I’m going to find myself a small college in New England with a small music department.” Continue reading »
[Emeritus Faculty] Robert Suderburg, Class of 1924 Professor of Music was already a well known pianist, composer, teacher, and administrator before joining our music department in 1985. He had most recently served as president of the Cornish Institute in Seattle and before that as chancellor of the North Carolina School of the Arts. He was perhaps best known as a composer, whose works were performed by top soloists, chamber groups, and orchestras around the world. He won multiple ASCAP Awards based upon... Continue reading »
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