Rollo Dilworth

Rollo A. Dilworth (born September 23, 1970) is an American choral composer, arranger, conductor, and music educator from St. Louis, Missouri.

Education Dilworth, as a young boy, was impassioned by singing experiences in his school and church choirs. At the age of 11, he began experimenting with the music he was given by testing out alternate pitches and rhythms. His elementary music teacher fostered this curiosity by realizing his work. This period marked the beginning of his love for arranging music. At this time, he also began studying music theory and piano. During his high school years, he quickly discovered that he wanted to pursue music as a career. He spent a year teaching elementary school music full-time while also attending the University of Missouri-St. Louis to complete a master's degree in secondary education. In 1998, both Colla Voce and Hal Leonard contacted Dilworth, offering him publishing contracts. both of which are published by Hal Leonard. In 2003, he was the recipient of North Park University's Zenos Hawkinson Award for Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership. After 2009, Dilworth accepted a position as a professor of music at Temple University in Pennsylvania. He is the chair of the Music Education and Music Therapy department there. In 2017, he was honored with the Temple University Faculty Award for Research and Creative Achievement.

In celebration of composer Leonard Bernstein's 100 birthday, Nolan Williams Jr. commissioned the re-working of Leonard Bernstein's Mass by four Philadelphia composers – Dilworth, Jay Fluellen, Ruth Naomi Floyd, and Evelyn Simpson. Williams tasked them to "collectively write a new version that expresses their faith or crisis of faith". The new piece premiered at Philadelphia's Monumental Baptist Church in August 2018. a love which has moved him to compose settings of their texts.

Memberships

American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) Chorus America National Association for Music Education (NAfME) National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM)

Works Selected compositions and arrangements

SATB compositions "America, the Dream" "Freedom Train" "Jordan's Angels" "Let Peace and Love Shine Through" "Take me to the Water" "When Dreams Take Flight" "A Change Has Come"

SATB arrangements "I Sing Because I'm Happy" (adapted from "His Eye Is on the Sparrow") "Jesus, What a Wonderful Child" "Let Me Fly" "Little David, Play on Your Harp" "Oh! What a Beautiful City"

Selected discography Good News (2008) "No Rocks-A-Cryin'" "Keep On Travelin'" "Take Me to The Water" "Ain't A That Good News" "Jeremiah's Fire!" "Swinging' Sweet Chariot" "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me" "How Can I Keep from Singing?" "Witness for My Lord" "De Gospel Train" "Soon and Very Soon" "Walk in Jerusalem" "Ain't A That Good News" (Instrumental)

Books and articles Choir Builders: Fundamental Vocal Techniques for Classroom and General Use (2006) Choir Builders for Growing Voices (2010) Choir Builders for Growing Voices 2 (2014) "Working with Male Adolescent Voices in the Choral Rehearsal: A Survey of Research-based Strategies", Choral Journal, vol. 52, no. 9 (April 2012), 23–33. (2012)