William Chapman Nyaho
Encyclopedia
William H. Chapman Nyaho (surname Chapman Nyaho; b. Washington, D.C.
, 1958) is a Ghanaian American
concert pianist specializing in solo piano music by composers from Africa and the African diaspora
.
He left with his family to their native Ghana when he was just ten months of age, eventually graduating from the Achimota School in Achimota
, where he studied piano with John Barham
. He holds a B.A. degree in music from St Peter's College
, Oxford University, an M.M. from the Eastman School of Music
, and a D.M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin
. He has also studied at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève
. He has taught at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
, Colby College
and Willamette University
. He currently teaches privately and performs nationally and internationally giving recitals, masterclasses and workshops.
His repertoire includes music by Gamal Abdel-Rahim
, Margaret Bonds
, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
, Robert Nathaniel Dett
, Halim El-Dabh
, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
, Gyimah Labi, and Joshua Uzoigwe
. He has performed throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe, as well as in China.
He has compiled and edited a ground-breaking five-volume anthology Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora published by Oxford University Press
.http://www.us.oup.com/us/corporate/publishingprograms/music/sheet_music/new_and_featured/pianoafrica/
He lives in Seattle, Washington.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, 1958) is a Ghanaian American
Ghanaian American
Ghanaian Americans are citizens of the United States who are of Ghanaian heritage or were born in Ghana and immigrated to the United States of America.-Early history:...
concert pianist specializing in solo piano music by composers from Africa and the African diaspora
African diaspora
The African diaspora was the movement of Africans and their descendants to places throughout the world—predominantly to the Americas also to Europe, the Middle East and other places around the globe...
.
He left with his family to their native Ghana when he was just ten months of age, eventually graduating from the Achimota School in Achimota
Achimota
Achimota is a town in Greater Accra Region, Ghana just north of the capital Accra....
, where he studied piano with John Barham
John Barham
John Barham is an English pianist, composer, arranger, producer and educator.Born in London, and educated at London’s Royal College of Music and London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies , he has played and / or collaborated with a number of significant figures in the entertainment...
. He holds a B.A. degree in music from St Peter's College
St Peter's College, Oxford
St Peter's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, located in New Inn Hall Street. It occupies the site of two of the University's oldest Inns, or medieval hostels - Bishop Trellick's, later New Inn Hall, and Rose Hall - both of which were...
, Oxford University, an M.M. from the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
, and a D.M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. He has also studied at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève
Conservatoire de musique de Genève
The Conservatoire de musique de Genève is a music school in Geneva, Switzerland.Founded by François Bartholoni in 1835. This conservatory is the oldest music education institution in Switzerland and one of the oldest conservatory in Europe. Franz Liszt has taught at this conservatory during the...
. He has taught at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
, Colby College
Colby College
Colby College is a private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine. Founded in 1813, it is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States...
and Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
. He currently teaches privately and performs nationally and internationally giving recitals, masterclasses and workshops.
His repertoire includes music by Gamal Abdel-Rahim
Gamal Abdel-Rahim
Gamal Abdel-Rahim , was an Egyptian classical music composer, educator, and pianist. His best-known work is the symphony Osiris.-Life and career:...
, Margaret Bonds
Margaret Bonds
Margaret Allison Bonds was an American composer and pianist. One of the first black composers and performers to gain recognition in the United States, she is best remembered today for her frequent collaborations with Langston Hughes.-Life:...
, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was an English composer who achieved such success that he was once called the "African Mahler".-Early life and education:...
, Robert Nathaniel Dett
Robert Nathaniel Dett
Robert Nathaniel Dett , often known as R. Nathaniel Dett, was a composer in the United States and Canada...
, Halim El-Dabh
Halim El-Dabh
Halim Abdul Messieh El-Dabh is an Egyptian-born American composer, performer, ethnomusicologist, and educator, who has had a career spanning six decades...
, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson was an innovative American composer whose interests spanned the worlds of jazz, dance, pop, film, television, and classical music.Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson was Afro-American...
, Gyimah Labi, and Joshua Uzoigwe
Joshua Uzoigwe
Joshua Uzoigwe was a Nigerian composer and ethnomusicologist. A member of the Igbo ethnic group, many of his works draw on the traditional music of that people.-Early life and education:...
. He has performed throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe, as well as in China.
He has compiled and edited a ground-breaking five-volume anthology Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora published by Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
.http://www.us.oup.com/us/corporate/publishingprograms/music/sheet_music/new_and_featured/pianoafrica/
He lives in Seattle, Washington.
Recordings
- Senku: Piano Music by Composers of African Descent (MSR Classics)
- ASA: Piano Music by Composers of African Descent (MSR Classics)
- "Aaron Copland: Music for Two Pianos" Nyaho/Garcia Duo (Centaur Records)
External links
- Official site
- Nyaho page
- review by WNYC
- Review by musicweb-international of ASA - Piano music by composers of African descent