Willis, Richard

Richard Willis was Professor of Music and Composer-in-Residence at Baylor University, Waco, Texas for 32 years. He received the Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Alabama in 1950, a Master of Music (1951)in Composition degree from the Eastman School  of Music, completing a Ph. D at Eastman in 1964. His extensive list of composition includes two symphonies and a variety of  orchestra works; three string quartets, ten works for band or wind ensemble; pieces for various solo instrument and chamber music. He received the Rome Prize Fellowship (Prix de Rome), the Howard Hanson Prize and the Ostwald Composition Award. Dr. Willis was born in Mobile, Alabama on April 21, 1929 and died at the age of 68 on July 25, 1997.