Composers

William Grant Still’s career was comprised of many ‘firsts’. He was the first African American composer to have a symphony performed by a professional orchestra in the U.S., the Symphony no. 1 ‘Afro-American’ (1930). It was premiered by Howard Hanson and the Rochester Philharmonic. The piece’s New York premiere was given by the New York …

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Each month, Firebird Feature shines a spotlight on an individual doing big things in the arts, travel, or education. This month, we sat down with renowned conductor-composer Steven Sametz to talk about his background, his extraordinary career in choral conducting and composition, and how artists can continue to create in the pandemic. Firebird Fine Arts …

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