William Foster McDaniel

1940 -

About

William Foster McDaniel was born in Columbus, Ohio.  He studied piano at Capital University Conservatory of Music, and attended Boston University for his masters to study piano and composition, with further study as a pianist in France. He was 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.

Related Information

Source: International Dictionary of Black Composers

Works by William Foster McDaniel