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(07/13/09)
 “William Grant Still: Inspired to Inspiring,” a traveling exhibit sponsored through a collaborative partnership between the Mississippi Arts Commission, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Mississippi Humanities Council and the Mississippi Library Commission, will be on display at Millsaps College July 6 - 31 inside the Academic Complex in the second floor lobby on campus. The exhibit is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Consisting of eight free-standing fabric panels, the exhibit celebrates the life and work of Woodville native, William Grant Still. Venerated as the "Dean of American Negro Composers," Still had written more than 150 compositions before his death in 1978. Famed conductor, Leopold Stokowski called him “one of our greatest American composers” and the LA Times recognized him as “our great resident composer” in 1956.
Still’s musical masterpieces often drew comparisons to Tchaikovsky, while also earning him many notable distinctions throughout his career, including being the first African-American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony of his own performed by a leading orchestra, the first to have an opera performed by a major opera company and the first to have an opera performed on national television.
"Telling William Grant Still's story is a joy and a source of pride for those of us who celebrate his musical legacy and we hope everyone will come witness the power and resolve of this extraordinary and visionary Mississippian," MAC Executive Director, Malcolm White explained. "We are happy to partner with the other cultural agencies of Mississippi to present this important and exciting exhibit.”
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