Award-winning Producer ▪ Composer ▪ Cultural Curator
Award-winning Producer ▪ Composer ▪ Cultural Curator
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Award-winning Producer ▪ Composer ▪ Cultural Curator
Award-winning Producer ▪ Composer ▪ Cultural Curator
Nolan has curated a photo exhibition 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 just opened in the West Gallery of the DC History Center and will run through July 9, 2023.
Nolan has joined forces with Scott Tucker, former artistic director of Choral Arts, to form the Washington Douglass Chorale, a new professional choir that reflects the rich cultural diversity of Washington, DC. Check out the official announcement below, and click here for audition information.
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.
Nolan and the creative team of GRACE, the Musical just completed a developmental work session at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in Orlando, FL. Access the Broadway World article below and stay tuned for more exciting updates about GRACE! (Photo credit: courtesy of NEWorks Productions)
In commemoration of DC Emancipation Day, Nolan produced Mayor Muriel Bowser's Full Democracy Champions Luncheon. The event, organized by the Secretary of State of the District of Columbia, Kimberly Bassett, featured a keynote address by Laphonza Butler, president of EMILY's List, and remarks by City Councilwoman Christina Henderson, Attorney General Brian Schwalb, and more.
In late February, Nolan curated a week-long performance series at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, Florida. 6th & Jazz, presented in collaboration with NEWorks Productions, introduced 15,000 sixth graders in Orange and Osceola Counties to the jazz genre!
On Monday, January 16, 2023, Nolan music-produced this annual MLK birthday commemoration, co-presented by Georgetown University and The Kennedy Center. The 2023 Let Freedom Ring concert featured Tony and Grammy winner Leslie Odom, Jr. along with the Let Freedom Ring Choir and NEWorks Band.
The votes are in and GRACE is clearly the people's choice!
Special thanks to the many fans and industry insiders who have honored us with 12 nominations and 11 wins, including Best Musical, Best New Musical, Best Direction of a Musical (Robert Barry Fleming), Best Music Direction & Orchestra Performance (Nolan Williams, Jr.), Best Ensemble Performance, Best Performer in a Musical (Nova Y. Payton), Best Choreography (Robert Barry Fleming), Best Scenic Design (Jason Ardizonne-West), Best Lighting Design (Xavier Pierce), Best Costume Design (Dominique Fawn-Hill), and Best Sound Design (David Budries).
Become a Friend of GRACE today to track our journey forward.
PHOTO CREDIT: Andre Chung
"Becoming Douglass Commonwealth," the documentary Nolan produced, co-wrote, and directed last year through his company, NEWorks Productions, was recently awarded a 2023 Communicator Award of Excellence and 2023 Anthem Awards Silver Prize for Best Human & Civil Rights Film. This raises the total prizes won to ten, including seven 2022 Telly Awards and a 2022 Davey Award.
Presented by Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and produced by NEWorks Productions, "Becoming..." chronicles the long and complicated history of D.C.’s fight for full democracy featuring members of Congress, city officials (past and present), business leaders, and more. The documentary has aired, to date, in five CBS east coast markets and on DCTV.
The Communicator Awards recognize excellence, effectiveness, and innovation across all areas of communication
The Anthem Awards celebrate and champion work across seven core causes: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Education, Art & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Responsible Technology; and Sustainability, Environment & Climate.
With over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents, the Telly Awards are the global gold standard for excellence in video and television across all platforms.
Established in 2005, the Davey Awards are presented and judged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts to recognize extraordinary creativity produced by smaller companies.
Here's a full list of the prizes awarded to Nolan and his team.
2023 Communicator Award for Best Documentary
2022 Telly Award for Best Documentary for Television
2022 Davey Award for Best Documentary (General)
2023 Anthem Award for Best Human & Civil Rights Film
2022 Telly Award for Best News Feature for Television
2022 Telly Award for Best Direction for Television
2022 Telly Award for Best Editing for Television
2022 Telly Award for Best Writing for Television
2022 Telly Award for Best Political/Commentary for Television
2022 Telly Award for Best Government Relations for Television
On Saturday, July 9, 2022, Nolan hosted The Kennedy Center's first-ever colloquium celebrating African American foodways, headlined by the incomparable chef Carla Hall, with tastings curated by Hall, celebrity chef Rock Harper, and more. A highlight of the occasion was the presentation of the inaugural Grace Awards honoring extraordinary leadership and exceptional works that celebrate and elevate African American culinary traditions in the spirit of GRACE, the musical. The inaugural recipients are: Virginia Ali, owner of Ben's Chili Bowl; Dr. Lance London, owner of Carolina Kitchen; and Dr. Erinn Tucker Oluwole and Furard Tate, co-founders of DMV Black Restaurant Week.
Check out the compelling images below. And, in case you missed the Broadway World feature story, here's the link.
Marc Bamuthi Joseph & Nolan w/ Grace Awardees Dr. Erinn Tucker-Oluwole, Virginia Ali, Furard Tate, & Dr. Lance London (Credit: Jermoni Dowd/ NEWorks)
NBC4-Washington released this news feature on Nolan in May 2022
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 year one of his residency.
Nolan is chief music editor of the bestselling African American Heritage Hymnal. Released by GIA Publications in 2001, this landmark compilation has sold over 500K 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 contri
Nolan is chief music editor of the bestselling African American Heritage Hymnal. Released by GIA Publications in 2001, this landmark compilation has sold over 500K 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).
Nolan's honors include: seven 2022 Telly Awards and one 2022 Davey Award for his television special advocating for D.C. statehood, including the coveted Gold Prize for Best TV Documentary; three 2021 Telly Awards Bronze Prizes for his live chat series co-hosted with celebrity Chef Carla Hall and his voting rights anthem; 2019 Arts Advocac
Nolan's honors include: seven 2022 Telly Awards and one 2022 Davey Award for his television special advocating for D.C. statehood, including the coveted Gold Prize for Best TV Documentary; three 2021 Telly Awards Bronze Prizes for his live chat series co-hosted with celebrity Chef Carla Hall and his voting rights anthem; 2019 Arts Advocacy Award, Kennedy Center National Committee for the Performing Arts; 2017 W.E.B. Du Bois Arts & Education Award; 2013 honorary Doctor of Music, Richmond Virginia Seminary; 2012 American Cancer Society Award; 2012 Genius4Men Award.
Copyright © 2021, Nolan Williams, Jr.
All Rights Reserved.
COVER PHOTO CREDIT: Marvin Joseph
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