Roland Carter (composer) facts for kids

Roland Marvin Carter was born on May 4, 1942. He is an American composer and conductor. He is especially known for his work with choral music.

Early Life and Education

Roland Carter grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He loved music from a young age. He went to Hampton University to study music education. There, he earned his first degree. Later, he continued his studies at New York University. He earned his master's degree there. During his studies, he focused on piano, choral music, and composition.

A Career in Music Education

Teaching at Hampton University

From 1965 to 1989, Mr. Carter taught music at Hampton University. He was a very important part of the music department. He even became the head of the music department. He also led the university's choir, helping students develop their musical talents.

Moving to Chattanooga

In 1989, Roland Carter moved back to his hometown. He began teaching at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. He continued to direct the choir there. He taught many students until he retired in 2013.

Musical Contributions

Roland Carter is famous for his work with African-American choral music. He is a talented composer, conductor, and arranger. He also publishes music.

Promoting African-American Music

Mr. Carter has worked hard to share the choral music of African-American composers. He was the president of the National Association of Negro Musicians from 2003 to 2009. This group helps support Black musicians.

Composing and Arranging

Roland Carter has his own publishing company called MAR-VEL. Through his company, he publishes choral music. He is especially known for his arrangements of spirituals. Spirituals are a type of religious folk song. He has created many of his own spiritual arrangements. He has also composed new choral pieces using different texts.

Conducting Style

As a conductor, Mr. Carter has led many concerts. He conducted the first concert in the African-American Music Series at Carnegie Hall. This is a very famous concert venue. He believes in performing spiritual arrangements with the same care as classical music. He treats them like the works of famous composers such as Johannes Brahms or Franz Schubert.

Awards and Recognition

Roland Carter has received many honors throughout his career. He was given an honorary doctorate degree from Shaw University. This means they recognized his great achievements. In 2006, he became an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. This is a music fraternity. In 2022, the city of Chattanooga honored him. They named a street after him in his hometown.

His Legacy

In 2021, Roland Carter gave his collection of works and papers to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. This collection is called an archive. It helps future students and researchers learn about his important contributions to music.