As American composers were beginning to make their mark on the classical music art form in the early 20th Century, Jazz and Blues were also getting started in what could be classified as true American art forms. Born in Mississippi, William Grant Still was born to two teachers, after his fathers death at 3 months old, his mother moved him to Little Rock, Arkansas. A direct descendant of, Underground Railroad leader, William Still, he would graduated from school at 16 and continue on to college. While he studied Science in school, he also became band conductor and began composing musical orchestras. He then went on to study at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, studying with George Whitfield Chadwick and Edgard Varese. In 1919, he began working with WC Handy in Memphis. He went on to write over 150 compositions, was the first African-American to conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, he wrote an Opera performed by the New York City Opera, his works have been performed by every orchestra on the planet, he went on to arrange music for films in Hollywood.

His Afro-American Symphony No. 1 was the first symphony written by an African-American and performed by a leading Orchestra to the public. Stills successfully fused blues and jazz with the classical music ideal. Also, present is a spiritual undertone, a celebratory essence. Enjoy and broaden your horizons just a little bit…..Here his composition is performed by The San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts’ Symphony Orchestra…..