(1937-2018) Olly Wilson incorporated in his compositions a richly varied musical background including traditional composition and academic disciplines, as well as his professional experiences as a jazz and orchestral musician, work in electronic media, and studies of African music in West Africa. His works have been performed by major American orchestras, such as the Atlanta, Baltimore, Saint Louis, Detroit, and Dallas symphonies; as well as international ensembles such as the Moscow Philharmonic, the Netherlands Philharmonic, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Mr. Wilson has received commissions from the Boston, Chicago, and Houston Symphonies, as well as the New York Philharmonic and the American Composers Orchestra. In addition to being a published author, he wrote numerous articles on African and African-American music. He often conducted concerts of contemporary music. In 1995, Mr. Wilson was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
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Olly Wilson, composer
