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William Grant Still — Portrait
Portrait. Carl Van Vechten, 1949; Library of Congress; restoration by Adam Cuerden. Image credit & source

Composition · Orchestral music · Conducting

William Grant Still

1895–1978

HumanitiesCalifornia

Still composed symphonies, operas, and other concert works that brought African American musical traditions into orchestral settings. His Afro-American Symphony was performed by the Rochester Philharmonic in 1931. In 1936, he conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, breaking a major racial barrier in American orchestral life.[1],[2]

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Still composed symphonies, operas, and other concert works that brought African American musical traditions into orchestral settings. His Afro-American Symphony was performed by the Rochester Philharmonic in 1931. In 1936, he conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, breaking a major racial barrier in American orchestral life.[1],[2]

Local connection. Moved to Los Angeles in 1934 and conducted its Philharmonic in 1936; lived there until his death.

Impact reached: Concert audiences across the United States. (Impact describes who was reached; it is not a place of residence.)

Inquiry & making

Inquiry and making prompt

Listen to a short licensed recording excerpt. What instruments and repeating patterns can you hear or draw?

Places

Where William was born, had roots or studied, and worked — distinguished from where their impact reached.

Born
Woodville, Mississippi
Roots / education
Little Rock, Arkansas; Ohio; New York City, New York
Worked
Los Angeles, California; New York City, New York
Loading map…
Mapped places for William Grant Still
RelationshipDocumented placeMap pointSources
BirthplaceWoodville, MississippiWoodville town, MSCensus representative point[1][2]
Roots / educationLittle Rock, ArkansasLittle Rock city, ARCensus representative point[1][2]
Roots / educationNew York City, New YorkNew York city, NYCensus representative point[1][2]
WorkLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles city, CACensus representative point[1][2]
WorkNew York City, New YorkNew York city, NYCensus representative point[1][2]
Roots / educationOhioNot mapped — Broad state, region, country, or non-geographic identity: no defensible point assigned.

Timeline

  1. 1895

    Born — Woodville, Mississippi[2]

  2. 1931

    His Afro-American Symphony was performed by the Rochester Philharmonic in 1931.[1]

  3. 1936

    In 1936, he conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, breaking a major racial barrier in American orchestral life.[1]

  4. 1978

    Died[2]

Gallery

Portrait only in this edition; no reuse-supported contextual media has been verified for this figure yet.

William Grant Still: Portrait
William Grant Still — portraitPortrait.Credit: Carl Van Vechten, 1949; Library of Congress; restoration by Adam CuerdenLicense / rights: No known copyright restrictions; retain full image, avoid colorizing/cropping, credit photographer per estate requestSource recordOriginal-quality file

References

  1. [1]
    Library of Congress: William Grant Still

    Supports: Composition, 1931 performance, 1936 conducting, move to LA.

  2. [2]
    Duke University: William Grant Still Papers

    Supports: Birthplace, childhood, life dates and performances.

Last reviewed 2026-11-08 · Initial research edition · Record ID william-grant-still. A curated, source-informed article — not openly editable and not independently scholar-reviewed. Corrections process.