William Doppmann (

Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield is the most populous city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, and its county seat. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the ea ...

, October 10, 1934 — Honokaa, Hawaii, January 27, 2013) was an American concert pianist and composer. At the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

he was the only musician to ever win both the Walter W. Naumburg Award and the Michaels Memorial Award in a single season. As a composer, Doppmann was the recipient of two

Guggenheim Fellowship Guggenheim Fellowships are Grant (money), grants that have been awarded annually since by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, endowed by the late Simon Guggenheim, Simon and Olga Hirsh Guggenheim. These awards are bestowed upon indiv ...

Early life

William Doppmann started his piano lessons at the age of 5. His first major show was when he was 10 years old, in which he performed with the Cincinnati Orchestra. He studied piano with

Robert Goldsand Robert Goldsand (March 17, 1911September 16, 1991) was an Austrian-United States, American classical pianist. Life Goldsand was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, in 1911, the son of artisan Jakob Goldsand and his wife Helene. He began musical s ...

at the University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music. By the time he entered college he had been in over 500 performances. Doppmann moved to

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

and attended

studying composition with Homer Kelly and

Ross Lee Finney Ross Lee Finney (December 23, 1906 – February 4, 1997) was an American composer who taught for many years at the University of Michigan. Life and career Born in Wells, Minnesota, Finney received his early training at Carleton College and the Un ...

, and later studied with Carl Hugo Grimm at the University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music. During his second year in college, Doppmann won his first awards, the Walter W. Naumburg Award and the Michaels Memorial Award as a young artist.

Career

William Doppmann moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

after college, where he spent time studying and performing for symphonies like

Marlboro Music Festival The Marlboro Music School and Festival is a retreat for advanced classical training and musicianship held for seven weeks each summer in Marlboro, Vermont, in the United States. Public performances are held each weekend while the school is in ses ...

. Doppmann was then inducted into the

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

and stationed in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

for 2 years. Returning from the Army, Doppmann took care of his children and his wife. He became a professor in three major universities in Washington state, and was a composer for the next 12 years. In 1985 he moved back to New York to continue his career a pianist/composer. He then performed recitals in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and South America. He served as artistic director of the

Port Townsend Port Townsend is a city on the Quimper Peninsula in Jefferson County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,148 at the 2020 United States Census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County. In addition ...

Chamber Music Society in Washington for 20 years. He was married to Willa Doppmann, who was a Director of the Second City Chamber Series.

Selected works

* Spring Songs for Mezzo Soprano, Piano, Clarinet, Percussion (1981) * Fantasy I Winter Dreams for Solo Piano (1995) * Fantasy II Thaw: Shards To The Sea for Solo Piano (1997) * Four Pieces for solo cello (1951) * Four American Sonatas for piano (1999) * Dance Suite for cello, timpani, flute & clarinet (1953) * Rhapsody for cello, piano & tape on themes of George Crumb & Béla Bartók (1977) * Evensong for solo violin (1963) * Five Studies for solo piano (1969) * Dance Variations for solo clarinet (1978) * Rikki-Tikki-Tavi for Narrator and Chamber Orchestra (1981) * Distances . . . for solo piano and off-stage piano or tape (1982) * Duo for Flute and Harp (1982) * Counterpoints for Solo Piano, Chamber Strings and Percussion (1987) * Four Short Pieces for Solo Piano (1988) * The Marriage Ring for Baritone, Oboe/English Horn and Piano (1989) * Octobersong for Mezzo Soprano, Piano and Percussion (1995, revised 2006) * Toccata In Nomine for Solo Piano (1997) * Two Movements for Solo Viola (1996) * Passacaille for Harp, Alto Flute/Piccolo, & Mezzo Soprano (1996) * Psalm 66 for Choir SATB and Brass Trio (1996) * Partita for Solo Fortepiano (1997) * Elegy for Solo Cello (1997) * Mirror Song for Soprano & Mezzo with Piano accompaniment (1998) * Fantasy III Bells of MidSummer for Solo Piano (1999) * Justice Variants I & II for solo piano (1997 – 2000) * Duo In D, La Ricordanza for violin and piano (1999) * For Herself for High Soprano and Piano (2000) * Seven Duets for two Solo Violins (2001) * Swordplay for full orchestra and concertante of soloists – piano, clarinet, cornet (2003).

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Doppmann, William 1934 births 2013 deaths Musicians from Louisville, Kentucky University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni American pianists University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music alumni