William Chapman Nyaho is a member of The Frances Clark Center Board of Trustees and an internationally known pianist and teacher. A trailblazer, Nyaho regularly performs and teaches music by composers of African descent. His publication, Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora, was awarded The Frances Clark/MTNA Award for Keyboard Pedagogy in 2022 and Nyaho himself was recognized as a winner of the The Frances Clark Center Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. Read more below to learn more about his work in piano pedagogy through The Frances Clark Center.
WEBINAR: Into Africa: Exploring Art Music by Composers from the African Continent with William Chapman Nyaho, Bongani Ndodana-Breen, Fred Onovwerosuoke, Nyokabi Kariũki, and Olabode Omojola
Exploring music from throughout the African continent, this webinar hosted by Nyaho is a powerful reminder of the incredible music composed for the piano by composers from Africa and of African descent. In the webinar, leading scholars, composers, and performers share their perspectives and ideas about teaching and performing music from Africa. Enjoy the entire webinar by clicking here:
VIDEO: How Can We Empower Others? by William Chapman Nyaho
In this video, Leah Claiborne asks Nyaho about his perspective on empowerment and how teachers and performers can best approach music by composers from any culture. Nyaho’s inspirational message is that everyone should feel the right to play music by composers from around the world and to explore how their story can be told in a unique and personal way. Learn more about his perspective by clicking on the video here:
VIDEO: What Pieces Do You Refuse to Teach or Perform? by William Chapman Nyaho
Have you ever wondered whether a piece of music is appropriate due to its title, context, or subject? In this video, Nyaho and Leah Claiborne discuss this subject and share stories about their approach to works such as those by Debussy and those found in method books. Nyaho encourages teachers to take a moment to share the background of these pieces with their students so they can fully understand the cultural and historical context in which they were conceived. Listen to Nyaho’s full response by clicking here:
https://pianoinspires.com/video/what-pieces-do-you-refuse-to-teach-or-perform/
WEBINAR: Publications Launch Party: An Introduction to Thomas Henderson Kerr Jr. and Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel? with Susanna Garcia and William Chapman Nyaho
In this celebratory webinar, The Frances Clark Center launches the first of many publications to come of works by Thomas Henderson Kerr Jr. An African American composer, Kerr composed a significant amount of piano music, music of which remains unpublished. Along with Susanna Garica, Nyaho has been a leading advocate for the performance and study of these works. Discover Kerr by watching the webinar here:
Publications by Thomas Henderson Kerr Jr.
WEBINAR: Piano Inspires… with Wiliam Chapman Nyaho and Jennifer Snow
In this inspiring webinar, discover more about Nyaho’s life and work with interview host Jennifer Snow. Nyaho shares about his upbringing in Ghana, his studies at Oxford University and other prestigious institutions, and his mission to promote music by composers of African descent. Watch the entire webinar here:
BONUS! MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Exceptional Lives in Music: A Look at the Frances Clark Center 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees by Pamela Pike
At The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025, Nyaho was honored as one of The Frances Clark Center Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize his outstanding achievements as a pianist, pedagogue, mentor, and advocate. Learn more about his incredible life work by clicking here:
MORE ON CRAIG SALE
- VIDEO: What Pieces Do You Refuse to Teach or Perform? by William Chapman Nyaho
- WEBINAR: Diversity in Music with Leah Claiborne, Leonard Hayes, Artina McCain, Desireé González-Miller, and William Chapman Nyaho
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: William Chapman Nyaho: Scholar, Pianist, Advocate by Pamela Pike and Craig Sale
- DISCOVERY PAGE: Piano Inspires Podcast: An Interview with William Chapman Nyaho by Jennifer Snow and William Chapman Nyaho
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Exceptional Lives in Music: A Look at the Frances Clark Center 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees by Pamela Pike
- PUBLICATION: Easter Monday Swagger by Thomas H. Kerr Jr., edited by Susanna Garcia and William Chapman Nyaho
- PUBLICATION: Dancétudes by Thomas H. Kerr Jr., edited by Susanna Garcia and William Chapman Nyaho
- PUBLICATION: Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel? by Thomas H. Kerr Jr., edited by Susanna Garcia and William Chapman Nyaho
- VIDEO: How Can We Empower Others? by William Chapman Nyaho
- WEBINAR: Piano Inspires… with Wiliam Chapman Nyaho and Jennifer Snow
- WEBINAR: Music by Black Composers from Outside the USA with Leah Claiborne, Maria Corley, and William Chapman Nyaho
- WEBINAR: Publications Launch Party: An Introduction to Thomas Henderson Kerr Jr. and Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel? with Susanna Garcia and William Chapman Nyaho
- WEBINAR: Into Africa: Exploring Art Music by Composers from the African Continent with William Chapman Nyaho, Bongani Ndodana-Breen, Fred Onovwerosuoke, Nyokabi Kariũki, and Olabode Omojola
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