William Pitts is a composer, conductor, and arranger from Atlanta, Georgia. Growing up in Carrollton, Georgia, Will began his musical studies in piano and choir at age seven, saxophone in grade five, and began his conducting studies in grade seven. Pitts graduated summa cum laude from Emory University, where he studied saxophone, conducting, and composition. He was the first student to complete an Honors Project in both Conducting and Composition. He has completed graduate study in Music at North Georgia University and the University of Michigan.

Pitts served as a Conductor of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps of Rockford, Illinois, for three years (2005, 2007-2008). He was a finalist for DCI's Jim Jones Leadership Award all three years. In 2008, the Regiment took first place honors as World Champions at the Drum Corps International Finals. Will was also honored as Regiment's 2008 Mark Glasscoe Member of the Year. He has also served on Regiment's management and teaching staff.

Pitts is active as a music designer, adjudicator, and instructor for high school band programs throughout the country. Marching ensembles performing his arrangements have been recognized as Texas State Marching Band Finalists, along with Bands of America Regional Finalists, Regional Champions, and Grand National Finalists. His compositions and arrangements have been commissioned and performed across the United States, Brazil, and Australia. He has written works for and been commissioned by the University of North Texas, the Dallas Opera, Wake Forest University, the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, the Atlanta Trumpet Ensemble, the Vega String Quartet, the Atlanta Saxophone Quartet, the Northwinds Symphonic Band, horn virtuoso J.D. Shaw, tuba virtuoso Christian Carichner, and numerous high school and collegiate wind and chamber ensembles. He has also served as a production consultant and talent for Tom Blair, Inc., Drum Corps International, and MTV.

Pitts' recent Honors and Awards include the 2008 Katherine Blumenthal Award for Composition, the 2009 Emory University Music Department Nominee for the Sudler Prize in the Arts, and the 2010 Award Recipient of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Band Directors Association Grant for Young and Emerging Wind Band Composers.

As a music educator, Pitts has served on the faculties of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas, and Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in instrumental music, conducting, and music theory.

With Alvetta Newby-Jones on vocals, Bryan “Slappy” Goodman on guitar, Matt Jennings on keyboard, Solomon Wright on bass and Richard Jones on drums, Cherry Royale is a sonic blend of various musical backgrounds, tied together by a mutual, life-long love of music. In addition to years of cultivating their passion and craft, each member of the group brings to the table previous experience with widely respected, groundbreaking indie groups. With that experience also comes the courage to create boldly, as they forge through new ground in a musical landscape that hasn’t gotten enough shine of late; knowing without a doubt that as a team, Cherry Royale is dedicated to the same goal: to craft an experience through their music. “Funk is about the chemistry between not only the people playing the music, but the people listening as well,” points out Slappy. “Once you feel that chemistry, it’s absolutely undeniable. You can’t react against it.”  Originally part of a three-part collective studio brainchild called The Axis, Cherry Royale emerged from those early sessions as the vessel through which this new psychedelic funk & soul music was given life.   The Axis was established early on to encompass the different members wide-ranging skills as musicians and songwriters, of which some music With the final addition of MJ on keys in early 2011, CR began to tour heavily across the U.S., releasing early studio bootlegs and receiving critical acclaim for their high-energy live shows.

After spending about a year bringing their brand new brand of funk to the masses, and finding more than willing participants in their unique chemistry experiment at every turn, Cherry Royale took some time off from the road in late 2012 to give their growing fan base a way to bring the experience home. The group is currently putting the finishing touches on their debut EP “Say What?!,” due out on Dirty Bomb Records in February 2013. The EP was recorded both in Atlanta, GA and Oakland, CA over a six month period from April to November 2012 at Dirty Bomb Studios (East & West Labs).  The group took this time to refine and expand upon songs that had been brought forth from the previous year and a half of touring, as well as new material that various members had been working on collectively or solo.

Marching Arts Design | Composition | Music Education by Taylor Ransom

JohnCypert is following