William Chapman Nyaho

Dr. William Chapman Nyaho earned his degrees from St. Peter’s College, Oxford University, the Eastman School of Music and the University of Texas at Austin. He also studied at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, Switzerland. He currently serves on the piano faculty at Pacific Lutheran University as well as on the summer faculty of Interlochen Center for the Arts. He also has his private piano studio in Seattle, Washington and teaches students of all levels and ages. His students have been prizewinners at competitions and have been well placed in universities and colleges.

Chapman Nyaho’s professional experience includes being a North Carolina Visiting Artist and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he held the Heymann Endowed Professorship and was the recipient of the Distinguished Professor Award. He has served as Visiting Professor of Piano at Colby College, Maine, Artist-in-Residence at Willamette University, Oregon and piano professor at Adamant Music School, Vermont.

He is an active solo recitalist, duo pianist and chamber musician giving recitals and concerts in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean and in cities across the United States where he advocates music by composers of African descent. He actively serves as a regular guest clinician at colleges and universities around the United States. He is also adjudicator for several national and international piano competitions. He has served on national committees for the College Music Society, Music Teachers’ National Association and the National Endowment for the Arts.

As an advocate for music of Africa and its diaspora, Chapman Nyaho’s publications include a five-volume anthology Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora published by Oxford University Press. His recordings include Aaron Copland: Music for Two Pianos, Senku:Piano Music by Composers of African Descent and Asa: Piano Music by Composers of African Descent.