William Gillock facts for kids
William Gillock (born July 1, 1917 – died September 7, 1993) was an American composer. He was born in LaRussell, Missouri. He taught music and wrote many piano pieces.
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Who Was William Gillock?
William Gillock was a well-known American composer and music teacher. He is especially famous for writing beautiful piano music for young people.
His Early Life and Learning
William Gillock grew up in Missouri. He studied music at Central Methodist College, which was called Central College at the time. His music teacher there was N. Louise Wright.
A Life in Music
As a young man, Gillock moved to New Orleans. He taught music there for many years, helping students learn to play the piano. Later, he moved to Texas. In Texas, he became an important judge for a group called the Junior Pianists’ Guild. He was the main judge for 21 years, helping more than 1,400 students! William Gillock passed away in Dallas, Texas, on September 7, 1993.
Composing for Young Pianists
William Gillock loved writing piano music for children. He wrote pieces that could be played by one person (solo pieces) and pieces for groups to play together (ensemble pieces). He also taught at many music workshops, sharing his knowledge with other teachers and students. Because his music was so melodic and easy to listen to, people sometimes called him "the Schubert of children’s composers." This means his melodies were as lovely as those by the famous composer Franz Schubert. His music is still played often at piano festivals today.
Awards and Recognition
William Gillock received special honors for his work. The National Federation of Music Clubs gave him the Award of Merit for Service to American Music five times. This award recognized his important contributions to music in America.
His Lasting Legacy
William Gillock's music continues to be important. In March 2018, a group called the AADGT held a piano competition to honor him. Also, his pieces are included in the ABRSM exam syllabus, which means students around the world learn and play his music for their piano exams.
