Mickie D. Willis

Mickie Willis, composer and jazz pianist, received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Composition from Louisiana State University, studying with Kenneth Klaus, James Drew, Don Freund, and Dinos Constantinides. He composes for live concert performance and also has created music for films and videos using MIDI instruments and computer-generated sounds. His concert works include an oratorio, three symphonies, five works for chamber orchestra, four string quartets, two sets of piano variations, one oboe sonata, compositions for various other chamber ensembles, songs, and jazz compositions. His commercial works include a one-hour suite for synthesizer, music for ten films and videos, and television commercials. His recordings include four compact disc releases. He has completed four commissioned works for the Louisiana Sinfonietta, and twice has been the recipient of commissions awarded by Music Teachers National Association. He is also a writer with many published articles on music and other subjects, and one book in print. He is retired as the Music Program Director for the Louisiana Division of the Arts where he served on the Governor’s Education Task Force that drafted benchmarks and standards in music education for Louisiana schools and on the Louisiana Board of Regents committee that drafted curriculum guidelines for music education in Louisiana colleges and universities. He was also a frequent panelist and grant reader for U. S. Department of Education and National Endowment for the Arts, and served on the National Steering Committee of the Arts Education Partnership. He now devotes his full time to composing, playing and writing, and also teaches fine arts music courses as a member of the adjunct faculty of Arkansas State University. He continues to be a frequent panelist and lecturer, and have his music performed at regional and national music conferences and contemporary music festivals.