AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER & MULTI-HYPHENATE CREATIVE
AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER & MULTI-HYPHENATE CREATIVE
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AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER & MULTI-HYPHENATE CREATIVE
AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER & MULTI-HYPHENATE CREATIVE
On February 23, 2024, Oberlin College released the following Black History Month tribute on its social media platforms:
Nolan Williams, Jr. is incredible in so many different ways!
Nolan Williams Jr. '90 is a decorated producer and composer who has won 10 Telly Awards and four Broadway World Washington, D.C. Awards. His work includes choral and orchestral pieces premiered by major American orchestras, music produced for television and the bestselling African American Heritage Hymnal, for which he serves as the chief music editor. Williams received his BA in Music from Oberlin College in 1990 with an emphasis on piano performance and conducting, studying under the late Francis Walker ’45.
Photo by Marvin Joseph, courtesy of NEWorks Productions
#bhm #oberlinalumni #oberlin #oberlincollege #oberlinohio #blackhistorymonth #highered
Nolan has joined the artistic team for this ground-breaking program pioneered by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [RPO], presented by the Dr. Phillips Center, RPO, and Advent Health. STROKESTRA is a creative music-making program that facilitates holistic recovery for stroke survivors and their caregivers.
Re-mounted in the Kennedy Center Opera House after a sold out world premiere at the historic The Apollo, The Gathering: A Collective Sonic Ring Shout honors our present pulse need for a collective space of remembrance, to enact the sacred technology of a Ring Shout and engages the streets–a place where today's civic unrest has unfolded and taken place. Nolan will serve as choirmaster, leading his 48-voice NEWorks Voices of Inspiration for this performance with Nona Hendryx, Abby Dobson, Toshi Reagon, Joel Thompson, Carlos Simon, Courtney Bryan, Troy Anthony, and the American Composers Orchestra.
This program is made possible through the support from Arts For Justice, Ford Foundation, and Mellon Foundation. This performance is co-produced by National Black Theatre, The Apollo, and American Composers Orchestra in association with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and is an external rental presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center Campus Rental Office.
Kennedy Center Opera House
Saturday, June 1, 2024, 7:30pm
This June, Nolan and his creative team will enter another development cycle for his award-winning new musical, GRACE.
"We learned so much about the show during its premiere run," says Nolan, "Nikkole Salter (co-book writer) and I have been working on the show ever since."
This continued work has led to a developmental residency at The Kennedy Center in December 2022, an act one creative retreat and work session at the Dr Phillips Performing Arts Center in Orlando, FL (May 2023), and a forthcoming act two creative retreat and work session in June 2024 (venue and city TBA).
Nolan adds, "If folk loved the show before, they will be blown away by the changes we've made! We're taking the time we feel we need to make a good thing great!"
Stay tuned for further updates!
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GRACE, the Musical premiered at Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC in 2022, winning 11 Broadway World DC Awards, including Best Musical and Best New Musical.
Pictured: Nova Y. Payton as RUTHIE (Photo credit: Andre Chung)
Nolan will be a featured speaker this August for week nine of the African American Heritage House Lecture Series at the Chautauqua Institution.
Nolan has curated a photographic exhibit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, inspired by his award-winning documentary, "Becoming Douglass Commonwealth." Featuring the works of emerging photographers, D.C. Home Rule 50 is currently mounted in the West Gallery of the DC History Center.
In commemoration of DC Emancipation Day, Nolan and his NEWorks Productions recently produced Mayor Muriel Bowser's Full Democracy Champions Luncheon. The event was organized by the Secretary of State of the District of Columbia, Kimberly Bassett, hosted by Symone Sanders-Townsend, Co-Host of MSNBC's "The Weekend," and featured The Honorable Max Frost, U.S. House of Representatives, as keynote speaker.
Washington Convention Center
Monday, April 15, 2024
Curated and co-conducted by Nolan and Scott Tucker, the Washington Douglass Chorale’s spring concert grappled with the issues of equity and inclusion. With music ranging from Dorothy Rudd Moore and Damien Geter to William Billings and Aaron Copland, a special highlight of the program was the world premiere of a newly commissioned work, “Suite Freedom for All,” conceived by Nolan and composed by Washington, D.C.’s own Allyn Johnson in commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the birth of American composer and jazz pioneer Duke Ellington.
National Presbyterian Church
4101 Nebraska Ave NW, Washington, DC
Sunday, April 14, 2024
In early April, Nolan was invited by Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter to discuss his work at the Center and beyond during the Center’s annual meeting. This discussion included his service as Chair of the Center’s Community Advisory Board, his 19-year stint as music producer for Let Freedom Ring, the annual MLK holiday concert jointly presented by the Center and Georgetown University; his 2019 appointment as the Center's inaugural Social Practice Resident; his curation of the 2010 festival, Joyful Sounds: Gospel Across America, and his trailblazing contribution to the National Symphony Orchestra's NSO in Your Neighborhood program.
In all, Nolan—as a citizen artist and/or through my company NEWorks Productions—has collaborated with the Center on impactful initiatives over the course of 30 years. Stay tuned for highlights from this conversation in the coming weeks.
Nolan served as choirmaster for Andrea Bocelli's February 20 concert with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. The concert featured the NEWorks Voices of America performing a range of music from beloved opera choruses to inspirational songs.
For a second year, Nolan has curated and lead 6th & Jazz, an educational performance series presented collaboratively by the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and NEWorks Productions to annually introduce over 16,000 sixth graders in Orange and Osceola Counties to the jazz genre!
For a 19th year, Nolan has music produced this free, ticketed musical tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., jointly presented by Georgetown University and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The program was hosted by Anna Deavere Smith and featured performances by Nolan along with pop sensation Jordin Sparks, jazz artist Cécile McLorin Salvant, tenor Roderick Dixon, and more.
A musical highlight of the program was the world premiere of Nolan's “Rise Up and Fight,” a civic anthem composed to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer, performed by Broadway stars Benjamin H. Moore and John Riddle along with tenor Rayshun LaMarr and the NEWorks Voices of America.
Georgetown University also presented the annual John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award to Reginald L. Douglas, Artistic Director of DC's Mosaic Theater.
Nolan has recently been honored in recognition of his career of social justice activism through the arts. This body of work includes standout projects like "Let Freedom Ring," the annual MLK Holiday concert event Nolan has music produced since 2003; West Side/South Side, the national photographic exhibition Nolan curated to explore the challenges and triumphs of American cultural diversity; STIRRING THE WATERS ACROSS AMERICA, his critically-heralded theatrical concert production that highlights key events of the Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968; and WOKE!, the digital arts campaign Nolan has curated to raise civic awareness and engagement anchored by his award-winning voting rights anthem, "I Have A Right To Vote."
Established in 2006, previous honorees of the Living Legends Award for Service to Humanity include the late Congressman John Lewis, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, former President of Spellman College Johnetta B. Cole, and journalist Juan Williams.
Victoria Murray Baatin, Director of Social Impact at the Kennedy Center
Nolan Williams, Jr., Founder & CEO, NEWorks Productions / 2024 Living Legends Honoree
Nolan's artistic setting of the Negro Spiritual and freedom song 'Hold On' has won a Telly Award Silver Prize for Best Social Video (Dance & Performance).
The WETA Arts segment, written & produced by Judy Meschel to highlight the world premiere of Nolan's new musical 'GRACE' last year, has been nominated in the Arts/Entertainment Long Form Content category.
A creative innovator, Nolan has a long history of developing multifaceted programming that pairs performance, educational and visual arts projects with social impact initiatives. Click below to learn more about his curations from 2010 to present day.
In 2019, Nolan was named the inaugural Social Practice Resident at The Kennedy Center REACH. His focal project has been the development of STIRRING THE WATERS ACROSS AMERICA, his theatrical concert production that highlights seminal moments of the modern Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968. Click here to view the gallery of images that chronicle highlights from his multi-year residency.
Nolan's honors include: ten Telly Awards (2021, 2022, 2023); four Broadway World Washington, DC Awards (2022); two Davey Awards (2022); an Anthem Award (2023); a Communicator Award of Excellence (2023); a 2022 CAAPA Legacy Award; a 2019 Arts Advocacy Award, presented by the Kennedy Center's National Committee for the Performing Arts; a 20
Nolan's honors include: ten Telly Awards (2021, 2022, 2023); four Broadway World Washington, DC Awards (2022); two Davey Awards (2022); an Anthem Award (2023); a Communicator Award of Excellence (2023); a 2022 CAAPA Legacy Award; a 2019 Arts Advocacy Award, presented by the Kennedy Center's National Committee for the Performing Arts; a 2017 W.E.B. Du Bois Arts & Education Award; a 2013 honorary Doctor of Music degree, Richmond Virginia Seminary; a 2012 American Cancer Society Award; and a 2012 Genius4Men Award.
Nolan is chief music editor of the bestselling African American Heritage Hymnal. Released by GIA Publications in 2001, this landmark compilation has sold well over 500,000 copies worldwide. Nolan is also associate editor of Total Praise, the 2012 hymnal developed for the eight-million-member National Baptist Convention, USA, and third-mos
Nolan is chief music editor of the bestselling African American Heritage Hymnal. Released by GIA Publications in 2001, this landmark compilation has sold well over 500,000 copies worldwide. Nolan is also associate editor of Total Praise, the 2012 hymnal developed for the eight-million-member National Baptist Convention, USA, and third-most contributing arranger for Lead Me, Guide Me - Second Edition, an African American Catholic hymnal (2012).
Copyright © 2021, Nolan Williams, Jr.
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COVER PHOTO CREDIT: Marvin Joseph
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