William Wallace Gilchrist (January 8, 1846 – December 20, 1916) was an American composer and a major figure in nineteenth century music of Philadelphia.

[1] With the exception of a short period in Cincinnati, Ohio (1871–1872), he lived in Philadelphia, where he was active as church organist, teacher, and leader of musical clubs.

During this time was active as a baritone soloist at Holy Trinity Church on Rittenhouse Square and St. Mark's Church on Locust Street, soloist with the Handel and Haydn Society in productions of Messiah, Moses in Egypt and Judas Maccabaeus, and participant in a series of light operettas presented by the Amateur Drawing Room.

[1] In 1882, Gilchrist won the Cincinnati Festival Prize for his setting of the 46th Psalm, for soprano solo, chorus, and orchestra [2] where the judges included Camille Saint-Saëns and Carl Reinecke.

He composed two non-programmatic symphonies,[3] and some chamber music, including a nonet for piano, strings, flute, clarinet and horn.