Julius Penson Williams born June 22, 1954 in The Bronx, New York, is an African-American composer, conductor, and college professor.
An author of both instrumental and vocal music, Julius Williams has composed operas, symphonies, and chorus works for stage, concert hall, film, and television. Primarily a classically trained musician, Williams has shown his aptitude in writing in genres including gospel, jazz, and other contemporary forms.
Williams was educated in the New York public school system and graduated in 1972 from Andrew Jackson High School, a performing arts school in Queens, New York.
Williams attended Herbert Lehman College and Hartt School of Music where he received his, B.S. and M.M.E. respectively. He was bestowed an honorary doctorate from Keene State College in New Hampshire. While in Colorado, Williams studied orchestral conducting and composition at the Aspen Music School in 1984. Williams has over 33 guest conducting experiences, over 11 artist-in-residencies, visiting fellowships, and teaching positions. Moreover Williams has, also, received awards for musical excellence and contributions from classical to African American folk music.
He has studied, performed and taught, extensively, abroad from Russia to China. Countless groups, choirs, and ensembles have performed and honored him for his musical inventions. Williams has written articles, edited an anthology, and submitted writings to journals on the music of African Americans.
Currently, Williams is a full-time professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA since fall 1998. He teaches composition, conducting, theory, and also runs the Berklee International Composers Institute. He is also the conductor of the Great American Songbook Orchestra.
People who Williams has credited as having influenced his music are Ulysses Kay, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Charles Bell and John Corigliano.
Served as assistant director of music at Abyssinian Baptist church in Harlem 1993-86
Artistic director of New York state summer school of the arts 1988-1995
In commendation of music, for SATB (1988). Première: 1988The Spring, for SATB (1982). Première: 1982 commissioned by Roland Carter and the Hampton University choirThe Fall, for SATB (1982). Première: 1982 commissioned by Roland Carter and the Hampton University choirThe Winter, for SATB (1982). Première: 1982 commissioned by Roland Carter and the Hampton University choirThe Summer, for SATB (1982). Première: 1982 commissioned by Roland Carter and the Hampton University choirThe Lamb, for SATB (1982). Première: 1983 commissioned by the Association of Connecticut choruses for the 1983 conference at Yale University Premiered by the New Haven choraleInstrumental works:
Fanfare and Fugetto (1997) ca - Organ solo ...Dedicated to three organ friendsVermont's Escape ( 1989) - Clarinet/Piano/Tuba/Perc, Commissioned: Vermont Contemporary Ensemble, First Performance Congregational Church Vermont, December 1989Times of Troubles (1981) - Flute and Piano, First Performance: Society of University Composers 1981, LSU University, February 1982Alison's Dream (1981), Oboe and Piano, First Performance: Dr. Alison Williams, oboe, Wesleyan University, May 1981Serenade (1980) - Piano solo, First Performance: Real Art Ways Connecticut, 1981In Roads (trio) (1986) ca 12, Flute, Oboe and CelloFantasy on Bach (1984) ca 5, Percussion/marim/xyl, First Performance: Connecticut Valley Youth Wind Ensemble, University of Hartford. Conductor: Peter BoonshaftSounds of Colors (1976), Organ Solo 5', With-In Myself (1976) ca 6, Voice/clarinet/2 Trps/trombone, First Performance: Herbert H. Lehman CollegeFanfare and Fugetto (1997) ca, Organ solo. Dedicated to three organ friendsVermont's Escape (1989), Clarinet/Piano/Tuba/Percussion. Commissioned: Vermont Contemporary Ensemble. First Performance Congregational Church Vermont, December 1989Times of Troubles (1981) - Flute and Piano. First Performance: Society of University Composers, 1981, LSU University, February 1982With-In Myself (1976) ca 6, Voice/clarinet/2 Trps/trombone. First Performance: Herbert H. Lehman CollegeOrchestral works:
A Journey to Freedom (cantata), the john Daniels tribute CA 30 minutes, 3323/4321/tym,piano, percussion, Chorus, Orchestra, Soprano, Tenor soloist Commissioned by the Reston choral, November 2002Midnight Tolls. In Memeoriam September 11, 2001(2002) 3323/4321/Tym,percussion,piano,strings CA 9'30. Detroit Symphony Emerging composer recording Thomas Wilkins, March 16/17, 2002March of the Giant Pandas (2001) CA 6', 1111/22/strings/percussion.First Performance People Republic of china. Embassy, Washington dc, Washibgton Symphony Jan.2001A Mountain night recessional (2000) Ca 7'. 2222/4321/strings/perc and solo Soprano Voice. First Performance: Washington Symphony. Biltmore Estates Summer festival, North Carolina, July 2000A Norman Overture (1985) ca 8'. 2222/4321/strings/xyl/marim/perc. First Performance: New York Philharmonic. Zubin Mehta, May 1985Meditation (1993) ca 6'. from the cantata Easter Celebration. 2222/4321/strings,a/sax/tsax/per. Commissioned Shenandoah University Virginia. Performance: Cleveland Orchestra. Jahja ling, 1994A Dance (1993) from the cantata Easter Celebration. 2222/4321/strings/Asax/Tsax/perc. Commissioned Shenandoah University Virginia. First performance: Shenandoah University VirginiaToccatina for Strings (1985) ca 8'. String orchestra. Commissioned camerata youth orchestra. First performance: cw post college 1985To Praise (1982) ca 10'. satb chorus/alto soloist/strings/ piano. Commissioned congregational church Hartford, CTBlues Concerto for harmonica and orchestra (1996) ca 25'app.. 3232/4331/strings/asax /tsax/ perc /piano. Commissioned Etowah Youth Symphony orchestra. First Performance: Etowah Youth Symphony orchestra. Mike Gagliarodo, conductorEaster Celebration (1993) ca 60'. Alto, Ten Soloist/ chorus/ orchestra/ jazz ensemble'. Gospel choir / dancers. Commissioned Shenandoah University Virginia. First performance: Shenandoah University Virginia. Julius P. Williams, Conductor, April 10, 1993Cinderella Ballet (1987) ca 120'. 2222/4321/strings, perc. Commissioned Nutmeg Ballet Connecticut. First performance: New Haven Symphony. Julius P. Williams, conductorCinderella Ballet Suite' (1991) ca 15'. 2222/4321/strings, perc.Heartbeat (1990) ca 3'. 2222/4321/strings/ perc./ piano/ elec/ bass. From the Film Score. First performance: orchestra Virginia Beach, September 1992Is It True for high voice and orchestra ca 4'. 2222/4321/Strs/piano. Commissioned Shenandoah University Virginia. First performance: Shenandoah University Virginia. Julius P. Williams, Conductor, April 10, 1993Heart on the Wall, Dvorak Symphony,Albany Records (CD) release Summer 2011This is the Sound of Harmony composition Dreams Boston Children’s Choir 2010Somewhere far Away, Dvorak Symphony, Albany Records (CD) 2008, Troy 1072Place in Time,Dvorak Symphony, Albany Records (CD) 2007, Troy 979Midnight Tolls,Dvorak Symphony, Albany Records (CD) 2006The New American Romanticism- Dvorak Symphony, Albany Records (CD) 2004, Troy 704The American Soloist (Dvorak Symphony) Albany Records (CD) 2004 TROY 687Shades of Blue Visionary/Albany (CD) Records Troy 431 February 2001Symphonic Brotherhood The Music of African American Composers ,Albany Records (CD)Troy104Fare Ye Well Visionary Records 2003The Great American Songbook-Berklee recording the music of Burt Bacharach, Berklee recording 2008The Great American Songbook-Berklee recording the music of Duke Ellington, Berklee recording 2007The Great American Songbook- the Music of Stevie Wonder, Berklee recording 2007Love Stories - Julius Williams Conductor track "Violins"-Independent Gordon Chambers 2007Orchestra and Choral conducting with Vytausus Marijosius" Coleridge Taylor Perkinson, Charles Bruck,Hugh Ross, John Motley, Gerald Mack, Murray Sidlin, Kurt KlippstatterPiano with Ann Gelfand, Dr. Watson Morrison; Jazz piano with Jaki Byard - 1979 to 1980Schillinger Jazz Arranging at New School for Social Research, New York, with Richard BrendaComposition with Ulysses Kay, John Corigliano, Charles Bell, and Coleridge Taylor PerkinsonOrchestration with Fred Norman - 1973 to 1971ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION "Harmonica Concerto" featured -Educational Documentary, 1997CPR (RADIO): Interview - "What's New" - June 1994WQXR RADIO: New York with Robert Sherman. "The Listening Room" - June 7, 1989WQXR RADIO: New York with June Labell. "Symphony Saint Paulia" - January 1989SCTV - PBS: National Teleconference. South Carolina - February 1989WCBS TV: "Sunday Morning" with Charles Kuralt - Nationally broadcast - Fall 1988WQXR RADIO: New York with Robert Sherman. Panelist on Composition at the Aspen Music FestivalVPR (RADIO): Interview - March 1989CPTV: Guest Conductor for televised performance of "Purlie" segment with Connecticut Opera Association for Connecticut Arts Awards - July 1983WFSB - TV: Hartford, Connecticut - "Up Front" - October 1982June 1999, Musical Score "Indahomey"New Federal Theater, New York, NYNovember 1995, Musical Score for "The Paradise"Huntington Theater, Boston, MassMarch 1991, Musical score for "Balm Yard". (Off Broadway). Premiered Riverside Church Theatre produced by the New Federal Theatre, New York.February 1981, Musical score for "Dreams Deferred" (Woodie King, Producer). Premiered at the New Federal Theatre, New York, NYFebruary 10, 1979, Musical score for "Princess Too Tall" (Book by Karl Friedman). Premiered at the Henry Street Settlement Arts for Living Center, New York, NYNovember 17, 1978, Musical score for Mio (Book for Shauneille Perry). Premiered at the New Federal Theatre, New York, NY – March to May 1988January 28, 1978, Musical score and lyrics for The In Crowd" - (Book by J. E. Franklin) (Off Broadway). Premiered at the Henry Street Settlement Arts for Living Center, New York, NYFilm and video
October 2002- Fighting for Our Future, Principal Pictures/ lifetime TV October 10, 2002, 2003 Gracie Award winner, Yeah, My heart Beats loud, Juniper Pictures( independent) 1993
