Roland Carter (composer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roland Carter
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| Born | May 4, 1942 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Hampton University New York University |
| Occupation | Conductor |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Hampton University University of Tennessee at Chattanooga |
Roland Marvin Carter (born May 4, 1942) is an American musician. He is known as a composer and conductor. He mostly works with choral music, which is music sung by a group of singers called a choir.
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Who is Roland Carter?
Roland Carter was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He became a very important person in the world of music. He is especially known for helping to share the beautiful choral music of African-American composers.
Early Life and Education
Roland Carter loved music from a young age. He studied music education at Hampton University. There, he earned his first degree. He then went to New York University for his master's degree. During his studies, he focused on piano, choral music, and how to compose music.
A Career in Music and Teaching
After college, Carter began teaching music. From 1965 to 1989, he taught at Hampton University. He was in charge of the music department. He also led the university choir.
In 1989, he moved to the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. He continued to teach there. He also directed their choir. He retired from teaching in 2013.
Promoting African-American Choral Music
Roland Carter is famous for his work with African-American choral music. He is a composer, conductor, and arranger. An arranger takes existing music and changes it for a different group of instruments or voices.
He also publishes music through his company, MAR-VEL. He publishes many arrangements of spirituals. Spirituals are a special type of African-American folk song.
As a composer, Carter has created many of his own spiritual arrangements. He has also written new choral songs. He believes these songs should be performed with the same care as classical music. He once conducted the first concert in the African-American Music Series at Carnegie Hall.
What are Spirituals?
Spirituals are traditional songs. They were created by African Americans. These songs often have deep religious meanings. They also tell stories of hope and freedom. Roland Carter has helped many people discover and enjoy these important songs.
Awards and Recognition
Roland Carter has received many honors. He earned an honorary doctorate from Shaw University. This is a special degree given to someone for their achievements.
In 2006, he became an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. This is a music fraternity. In 2022, his hometown of Chattanooga named a street after him. This shows how much his community respects him.
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 musicians learn from his amazing career. His work continues to inspire many people.
