William Ferris

William Ferris (born February 26, 1937 in Chicago , Illinois , † May 16, 2000 there ) was an American composer, organist and choir director.

Ferris studied composition with Alexander Tcherepnin in Chicago and attended DePaul University's music school from 1955 to 1960 . He also took private lessons with Leo Sowerby from 1957 to 1962 . Other teachers were Paul Stassevitch , James Welch and Arthur Becker .

From 1965 to 1958 and from 1962 to 1964, Ferris was organist at the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. At the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rochester, New York, he worked from 1966 to 1971 as musical director. In 1971, he and John Vorrasi founded the William Ferris Chorale , a choir specializing in the performance of works from the Renaissance and the 20th century. From 1973 he taught at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.

Ferris' catalog raisonné includes more than 500 compositions, including numerous church music works as well as three operas, orchestral and chamber music and songs. Became known Corridors of Light after the poem The Truly Great by Stephen Spender . Snowcarols for soloists, choir and chamber ensemble was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1980 .

swell

personal data
SURNAME	Ferris, William
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American composer, organist and choir director
DATE OF BIRTH	February 26, 1937
PLACE OF BIRTH	Chicago , Illinois
DATE OF DEATH	May 16, 2000
Place of death	Chicago , Illinois