Ernest Williams (conductor)

Ernest S. Williams (27 September 1881 – 8 February 1947) was a prominent American band conductor, cornet soloist, composer, and music educator.

He joined the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1917,[5] performing as solo trumpeter under Leopold Stokowski, Richard Strauss, Georges Enesco, Vincent d'Indy and Ossip Gabrilowitsch.

[8] A number of noteworthy composers lectured, taught, conducted, and/or had their works premiered at the Ernest Williams School, including Percy Grainger, Erik W. G. Leidzén, Ferde Grofé, Henry Cowell, and Morton Gould.

Recent investigations have revealed that Erik Leidzén possibly ghost-wrote many of Ernest S. Williams' pieces from scratch, even the Symphony in C Minor.

[10] Also of note are his opera, Rip Van Winkle, and tone poem, America (for chorus and band or orchestra), which stand alongside numerous marches, concerti and solos.