Biography: Anthony Williams

Anthony E. Williams D.M.A.

Anthony Williams is Associate Professor of Music and University Organist at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he teaches organ and courses in Music History. He also served as Interim Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers following the passing of the director, Dr. Paul T. Kwami. From 1990 to 2005, Dr. Williams was a member of the music faculty at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Williams began his teaching career at Fisk in the late 1980s, where he served as Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers® and was the youngest person in the history of this ensemble to hold that position. He returned to Fisk in the fall of 2005 as a Visiting Artist in Residence following the evacuation from New Orleans, Louisiana, due to Hurricane Katrina. As a church musician, Dr. Williams also serves as Organist and Choir Director at First Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Dr. Williams earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the American Conservatory of Music. His principal teachers have included Robert Glasgow, Marilyn Mason, David Mulbury, Peter Fyfe, and Paul Jordan.

Dr. Williams has performed organ recitals throughout the United States as well as Central America and Europe. Active as a lecturer, Dr. Williams has presented workshops. master classes and lectures throughout the country on a wide variety of topics including Organ Music of Black Composers. He presented his lecture, Organ Music of Black Composers at the 2016 and 2022 National Conventions of the American Guild of Organists. In the June of 2018, he served as Service Organist for the Presbyterian Association of Musicians Worship and Music Conference held in Montreat, North Carolina.

Education:

D.M.A. The American Conservatory of Music 

M.Mus. University of Michigan

B.Mus University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory  of Music

Contact information:

Office Location: Room 113, Harris Music Building
Office Phone: 615-329-8701

Office email: awilliams@156china.com

Anthony E. Williams, D.M.A Performances

Revision: The History of Jazz: A Confluence of Culture and Ideas by Wayne C. Smith,
National Social Science Press, 2011 (Fall 2024)
Organ Music of Black Composers”, Worship, Music and Ministry, A Journal of the United
Church of Christ Musicians Association, Fall 2016
“Sara Martin”, Black Women of the Harlem Renaissance Era Rowman and Littlefield (2014)
“Marie Selika Williams”, Black Women of the Harlem Renaissance Era
Roman and Littlefield (2014)
“The Unknown Organ Music”, The American Organist, July 2014
“Spirituals”, Encyclopedia of African American Culture Greenwood Press (2010)
“Cross-over Rap with Country, Pop, Latin”, Encyclopedia of African American Culture
Greenwood Press (2010)
Review: Restoration: Four Arrangements of American Hymns for Organ by Kenneth T. Kosche,
Presbyterian Association of Musicians Newsletter, Christmas 2008
Review: Off the Page by Donald Rotermund, Presbyterian Association of Musicians
Newsletter, Christmas 2008
Review: We Gather Together: Four Thanksgiving Hymn Settings for Organ by Neil Harmon
Presbyterian Association of Musicians Newsletter, Fall 2008
Organ Recitals: Nashville, TN; Hendersonville, TN; Columbia, TN; Springfield, TN; Atlanta, GA; Columbus, OH; Chicago, IL;Washington, DC; Denver, CO; Charleston, SC; New York, NY; Pittsburgh, PA; Hampton, VA; Crystal Lake, IL; Tiffin, OH; Jackson, MS; San Francisco, CA; Houston, TX; La Crosse, WI; Stone Mountain, GA; Birmingham, AL; Montgomery, AL; Berkeley, CA; Sewanee, TN; Miami, FL; Williamsburg, VA; , Ann Arbor, MI; Campbellsville, KY; St. Petersburg, FL; Methuen, MA; Midland, TX; Austin, TX; New Orleans, LA; Hammond, LA; Waco, TX; Springfield, MO; Montevallo, AL; Mobile, AL; Philadelphia, PA; Lafayette, LA; San Marcos, TX; Little Rock, AR; Greensboro, NC; Newport, KY; Covington, KY; Cincinnati, OH; Belize City, Belize; Geneva, Switzerland

Anthony E. Williams, D.M.A Professional Service

Fisk University, Nashville, TN (2005-present)
Associate Professor of Music and University Organist, (2006-present),
Interim Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers (2022-2023)
Director of Core Curriculum (2018-2019)
Assistant Professor of Music and University Organist, (2006)
Visiting Artist in Residence, (2005)
Dillard University, New Orleans, LA. (1990-2005)
Assistant Professor of Music and University Organist, (1990-2005)
Music Area Coordinator, Dillard University (1991-1993)
Delgado Community College, New Orleans, LA, Adjunct Faculty, (1996-1997)
New Orleans Baptist Seminary, New Orleans, LA (1995), Adjunct Faculty
Fisk University, Nashville, TN. (1986-1990)
Instructor of Music and University Organist (1986-1990)
Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers (1987-1990)
Assistant Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers (1986-1987)

Anthony E. Williams, D.M.A. Conference Presentations

Workshop: “Organ Music of Black Composers”, National Convention of the American Guild of Organists, Seattle, WA (July 2022)
Class: Organ Service Playing, Presbyterian Association of Musicians Worship and Music
Conference, Montreat, NC (June 2018)
Workshop: “Organ Music of Black Composers”, National Convention of the American Guild of Organists, Houston, TX (June 2016)
Service Organist: Presbyterian Association of Musicians Worship and Music Conference,
Montreat, NC (June 2018)
Faculty: Pipe Organ Encounter, Gainesville, FL (July 2012)
Faculty New Orleans Piano Institute, New Orleans, LA (2001-2008)
Panel Discussion: “Effective Teaching Methods” HBCU Conductor’s Summit, Washington, DC
(September 2008)
Lecture: “The Piano in Nineteenth Century America”, New Orleans Piano Institute,
New Orleans, LA (July 2008)
Lecture: “John W. Work, III: The Bartók of America”, New Orleans Piano Institute,
New Orleans, LA (July 2007)
Lecture: “The Bach/Busoni Organ Transcriptions – An Organist’s Perspective”,
New Orleans Piano Institute, New Orleans, LA (July 2005)
Lecture: “The Styles of Ragtime”, New Orleans Piano Institute, New Orleans, LA (July 2004)
Lecture: “Organ Music of Black Composers”, Baylor University Midwinter Organ Conference
Waco, TX. (February 2004)
Executive Committee, Nashville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
(2017-2020, 2006-2009)
Regional Nominating Committee, Southeast Region, American Guild of Organists (2016, 2014)
Member of Board of Directors of the Hendersonville Community Singers, Hendersonville, TN
(2017-2019)
Arts Access Grant Advisory Panel, Tennessee Arts Commission, Nashville, TN (April 2014)
National Taskforce on Diversity, American Guild of Organists (2014)
Member of Board of Directors of the Music City Baroque, Nashville, TN (2011-2019)
Member of Board of Directors of the John Wesley Work, III Memorial Foundation, Inc.,
Nashville, TN (2007-2018)
Member of Advisory Board for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (1995-1999)
Member of Music Advisory Committee, Delgado Community College New Orleans, LA.
Member of Board of Directors, the Musical Arts Society of New Orleans
(formerly the New Orleans Institute for the Performing Arts) (1992-2007)

Anthony E. Williams, D.M.A Courses

Music History and Literature I, II (Fall 2023)
Music in America (Fall 2023)
History of Jazz (Spring 2023)
Crosscurrents in African and African-American Music (Spring 2023)
Twentieth-Century Music History (Fall 2021)
Creative Arts (Fall 2022)