Background
Curtis, William Edgar was born on March 11, 1914 in Aberdeen, Scotland. Son of William Alexander and Florence (Malseed) Curtis. came to the United States, 1940.
Curtis, William Edgar was born on March 11, 1914 in Aberdeen, Scotland. Son of William Alexander and Florence (Malseed) Curtis. came to the United States, 1940.
Bachelor of Music magna cum laude, University Edinburgh, 1935. Master of Arts magna cum laude, University Edinburgh, 1936. Studies with Rudolph Serkin,, Adolph and Fritz Busch, 1939.
Postgraduate, Curtis Institute, 1942. Postgraduate, Cleveland Orchestra Conductors Workshop, 1956.
Conductor, founder, Curtis String Orchestra, Boston, 1942-1944; member of faculty, Boston Conservatory and Boston University, 1946-1948; music director, conductor, Albany (New York) Symphony Orchestra, 1948-1967; director music, chairman department art, music, drama, Union College, Schenectady, New York, 1955-1972; founder, conductor, Northeastern New York Student Orchestra, Schenectady, since 1965; founder, conductor, Northeastern New York Philharmonic, Schenectady, since 1966; guest conductor, composer, since 1979. Guest conductor Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1944, British Broadcasting Corporation, Swiss Radio, Zürich, Switzerland, Oslo (Norway) Philharmonic, Brabant Orkest, Holland, others.
Served with United States Navy, 1944-1946. Member American Federation Musicians (award 1952).
Married Doris Gray Schauffler, June 20, 1942. Children: Michael Gray, Julie Malseed Curtis, Annie Curtis Chittenden.