George Theophilus Walker, born on June 27, 1922, in Washington, D.C., was an American composer, pianist, and organist. He began playing the piano at age five and studied at Oberlin Conservatory and Curtis Institute of Music. His first major orchestral work was Address for Orchestra. Throughout his career, Walker composed over 90 works, including five piano sonatas and Lilacs (1996) for voice and orchestra, which earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Music, making him the first African American to receive this honor. He taught at Rutgers University until his retirement in 1992. Awards include six honorary doctoral degrees. Walker died on August 23, 2018, in Montclair, New Jersey.
