Background
SCHUMAN, William was born on August 4, 1910 in New York, United States.
administrator composer educator
SCHUMAN, William was born on August 4, 1910 in New York, United States.
Bachelor of Science, Columbia University, 1935. Master of Arts, Columbia University, 1937. Doctor of Music, Columbia University, 1954.
Private study, Max Persin. Private study, Charles Haubiel. Private study, Roy Harris.
Doctor of Music (honorary), Chicago Museum College, 1946. Doctor of Music (honorary), University Wisconsin, 1949. Doctor of Music (honorary), Philadelphia Conservatory Music, 1952.
Doctor of Music (honorary), Cincinnati College Music, 1953. Doctor of Music (honorary), Hartt College Music, 1956. Doctor of Music (honorary), Allegheny College, 1961.
Doctor of Music (honorary), New York University, 1962. Doctor of Music (honorary), Oberlin College, 1963. Doctor of Music (honorary), University Rhode Island, 1965.
Doctor of Music (honorary), Peabody Conservatory, 1971. Doctor of Music (honorary), University Rochester, 1972. Doctor of Music (honorary), North Carolina University, 1980.
Doctor of Music (honorary), New England Conservatory Music, 1981. Doctor of Music (honorary), State University of New York, 1986. Doctor of Music (honorary), Yale University, 1988.
Doctor of Fine Arts (honorary), Adelphi College, 1963. Doctor of Fine Arts (honorary), Northwestern University, 1963. Doctor of Fine Arts (honorary), University New Mexico, 1964.
Doctor of Fine Arts (honorary), State University of New York, 1974. DJ (honorary), Bates College, 1966. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Colgate University, 1960.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Brandeis University, 1962. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Dartmouth College, 1962. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), New York University, 1962.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Fordham University, 1970. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Ashland College, 1970. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), The Johns Hopkins University, 1985.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), The Juilliard School, 1987.
ten symphonies, four string quartets, “Amaryllis” Variation for String Trio, American Festival Overture, Credendum, New England Triptych, Circus Overture, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, A Song of Orpheus (fantasy for ’cello and orchestra), The Witch of Endor, In Praise of Shahn, Quartettino for Four Bassoons, Variations for String Trio, The Mighty Casey (opera), secular cantatas and music for ballets, band works and piano music. Director chorus, member faculty Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York, 1935-1945. Director publications G. Schirmer, Incorporated, New York York City, 1944-1945. Special publications consultant, 1945-1952.
President Julliard School Music, New York City, 1945-1962, president emeritus, 1962-1992. President Lincoln Center Performing Arts, 1962-1969, emeritus, 1969-1992. Member advisory committee cultural information United States Information Agency.
Vice chairman United States delegation United Nations Educational International Conference Creative Artists, Venice, Italy, 1952. Consultant in field.
Recipient numerous awards including 1st Town Hall-League of Composers award 1940, New York Music Critics Circle award 1941-1942, award of Merit National Association American Composers and Conductors 1941-1942, 1st Pulitzer prize for music, 1943, award National Institute Arts and Letters 1943, New York Music Critics Circle award 1950-1951, Columbia University Bicentennial Anniversary medal 1957, 1st Brandeis University Creative Arts award in music 1957, Citation of Merit State University New York 1963, Gold Medal Honor for music, National Arts Club 1964, Annual Composer's Award, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra 1965, Brandeis medal for distinguished service to higher education 1965, certificate of Merit Sigma Alpha Iota 1967, Concert Artists Guild award 1967, Mark M. Horblit prize for composition Boston Symphony Orchestra 1980, Gold medal American Academy Arts and Letters, 1982, National Medal Arts, 1987, Kennedy Center Honors award, 1989. Principal compositions include: (orchestral works) 10 symphonies, Three Colloquies for French horn and orchestra, New England Triptych, numerous others. (choral works) cantatas including A Free Song (first Pulitzer prize given for music), numerous shorter works such as Carols of Death.(band works) George Washington Bridge, 1950, overture Chester, 1956. (chamber music) 5 string quartets In Sweet Music. (piano compositions) Voyage, 1953.(score for film) Steeltown. (opera) The Mighty Casey. Recordings Evocation-To Thee Old Cause.Principal commissions include, Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation in Library of Congress, The Koussevitzky Music Foundation, Incorporated, Dallas Symphony League, Louisville Philharmonic, Ballet Theatre, United States National Commission for United Nations Educational through Department of State, Andre Kostelanetz, Samuel Dushkin, St. Lawrence University, Ford Foundation, Chamber Music Society Lincoln Center, New York Philharmonic (3), Boston Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Broadcast Music, Incorporated, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Composer (collaboration with Richard Purdy Wilbur) On Freedom's Ground: An American Cantata, 1985, commissioned for 100th anniversary of Statue of Liberty.
Chairman board judges Student Composers Awards of Broadcast Music, Inc. Board directors National Educational television Board, Film Society Lincoln Center, Charles E. Ives Society, Koussevitzky Music Foundation, Walter Naumberg Foundation (past president), Composers Forum. Director National Educational television, National Humanities Center.
Music panel National Education Association. Advisory council North Carolina School Arts. Advisory panel United States cultural Presentation Programs.
Music Advisory United States Information Agency. Chairman Norlin Foundation, MacDowell Colony, NET Council on Programs. Vice chairman United States Delaware United Nations Educational International Conference for Creative Arts, Chamber Music Society Lincoln Center.
Active Creative Awards Commission, Brandeis University, United States-Japan Committee for Educational and Cultural Cooperation of the United States Department State. Visiting committee Boston University School Arts, Harvard University Department Music. College of electors Hall of Fame for Great Americans.
Board overseers Hopkins Center of dartmouth College. Fellow National Institute Arts and Letters, American Academy and Institute Arts and Letters, Royal Academy Music (honorary), others. Clubs: Century (New York City), Lotos (New York City).
Married Frances Prince, March 27, 1936. Children– Anthony William, Andrea Frances.