William Foster McDaniel

About

William Foster McDaniel born in Columbus, Ohio in 1940.  Studied piano at Capital University Conservatory of Music. Attended Boston University for his masters to study piano and composition. Further study as a pianist in France. First place winner in the NANM (National Association of Negro Musicians national piano competition in 1965. According to author Gayle Sherwood, McDaniel's composing career has focused on adapting traditional art music genres and instrumental combinations to a modernist musical vocabulary. His musical output includes large scale works for orchestra, concertos for piano, flute and alto saxophone. He has also written for chamber ensemble and solo voice. His career has encompassed both composing, arranging for on and off Broadway musicals, conducting and continuing to perform as a pianist.  He has arranged and directed shows for such notables as Nell Carter, Eartha Kitt and Melvin Van Peebles.  (Source:  International Dictionary of Black Composers)

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Works by William Foster McDaniel