Frederick Tillis

Arts Advocate in Amherst, MA

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Arts Advocate in Amherst, MA

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Experience Frederick Tillis, a Classical and Jazz Composer in Amherst, MA

Experience the smooth sounds of contemporary jazz mixed with the sweet sound of classical when you listen to the compositions of Frederick Tillis. As well as being a classical and jazz composer in Amherst, MA, Dr. Tillis is also a musician, arts advocate, published poet, and educator. He has written a number of vocal and instrumental pieces throughout the years, blending the different sounds of European classical with jazz.

Through this experimentation of sounds, Dr. Tillis was able to develop a cultural bridge between African American and European music. Since 1950, he has composed more than 100 symphonies, choral pieces, solo songs, and quartets. He has experience playing a variety of instruments, including the saxophone, trumpet, piano, clarinet, and viola. Through the years, Dr. Tillis has directed marching and big bands, as well as conducted full symphonies.

Composing and Performing Multicultural Classical Music in Amherst, MA

Music is a language that everyone can understand, and one that exists in every culture. A hallmark of Dr. Tillis’ work is the blend of backgrounds from all over the world. Listening to his classical music in Amherst, MA, is a bit like taking a trip overseas. He has combined the beauty of classical with the beat of jazz for more than half a century, incorporating the best of European and African American music. These compositions make use of all kinds of instruments and sounds for a beautiful story that anybody can comprehend, no matter where they come from.

Dr. Tillis’ albums of classical music and more can be found on this page, along with his books of poetry. They go back decades and showcase the artist’s range as well as his signature style. His travels around the world while performing and composing have helped Dr. Tillis to put a little bit of many cultures and types of music into his work. Feel free to explore the lists of songs, symphonies, and other musical compositions available online to hear Dr. Tillis in action. There’s something for fans of classical, jazz, and more.

A Prolific Creator of the Arts

Dr. Tillis has focused most of his career on creating cross-cultural ties through his compositions to make unique and beautiful music. His music has been attributed to featuring intricate melodies with rich harmonic textures and has delighted audiences throughout the United States and internationally.

As a professor of music and the arts, Dr. Tillis has helped cultivate new musical talent around the world. He has worked and performed in a number of different countries, including Mexico, England, Italy, the former Soviet Union, China, and Japan.

Furthermore, Dr. Tillis has advocated for the arts throughout his career as a composer and writer on music composition and theory. He broke new grounds in literature and poetry and has published fifteen books. If you are interested in learning more about Dr. Tillis please visit his American Composer Alliance bio page. If you would like to obtain scores of his work, please contact the American Composers Alliance.

Musical Highlight Additional Compositions Interview with Dr. Tillis