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William Black

1952 – 2003

American musician

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About William Black

Lived 1952 – 2003 (aged 51). William Black was an American music educator and pianist.

William David Black (February 23, 1952 – December 10, 2003) was an American pianist and teacher.

Biography He was born in Dallas, Texas. He had a sister, Beverley, and a brother, the pianist, conductor and composer Robert Black. He studied at Oberlin College; with Rosina Lhévinne and Beveridge Webster at the Juilliard School in New York, earning a master's degree in 1976 and a doctorate in 1979; and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria.

He gave recitals and concerts at such venues in the United States as the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and in many overseas countries. He was a longtime consulting editor for Keyboard Classics/Piano Today.

He joined the piano department at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music in 1987. At his death, he was chair of the department.

In 1992, Black was the official U.S. representative at the First Shenyang International Music Festival in China.

William Black died of cancer in 2003, aged 51. He was survived by his widow, twin children, parents and sister. His brother Robert had also died of cancer, in 1993, aged only 43.

The William Black Memorial Prize in Piano, a $5,000 scholarship to support undergraduate piano study, is the only program of its kind in U.S. music schools and conservatories. As of 2023, it was still the only commercial recording ever made of that version, although non-commercial recordings exist.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
William David Black

People in William Black's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Black's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Black?

American musician (1952-2003)

When was William Black born?

William Black was born on 23 February 1952.

When did William Black die?

William Black died on 10 December 2003.

What was William Black's occupation?

William Black was a music educator and pianist.

What nationality was William Black?

William Black was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Black

· Wikidata: Q8005581

· DBpedia: William Black (pianist)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Black. https://biography.guide/william-black-music-educator/

MLA: "William Black." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-black-music-educator/.

Chicago: "William Black." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-black-music-educator/.

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