Adolphus Hailstork

American composer and teacher Adolphus Hailstork was born in Rochester, New York, on 17 April 1941. He grew up in Albany, where he studied piano, organ, violin and voice. He studied with H Owen Reed, Mark Fax, Vittorio Giannini, David Diamond and Nadia Boulanger, receiving a master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a doctorate in composition from Michigan State University.

He is professor of music and composer in residence at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA, and has previously taught at Youngstown State University, Ohio, and Norfolk State University, Virginia. He was awarded a Fulbright fellowship in 1987 and named a Cultural Laureate of the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1992.

Hailstork's music blends ideas from his African American ancestry with mainstream European classical music. Two of his symphonies have been recorded on Naxos by David Lockington and the Grand Rapids Symphony.

His music is published by Theodore Presser.

A selection of articles about Adolphus Hailstork

CD Spotlight. Quite Splendid - American vocal and symphonic music, heard by Bill Newman. '... much enjoyment and interest ...'

CD Spotlight. Wonderfully Colourful - Symphonies by Adolphus Hailstork, reviewed by Paul Sarcich. '... right on the ball, clean and clear ...'