William G. Carter
Lecturer
willcarter@marywood.edu
School of Visual & Perf Arts
570-348-6268Courses taught:
Jazz Vocal Coaching MUSC-123CJazz Vocal Coaching MUSC-123D
Applied Jazz Piano MUSC-126C
Applied Jazz Piano MUSC-126D
Applied Jazz Bass MUSC-135D
Jazz Vocal Coaching MUSC-223C
Jazz Vocal Coaching MUSC-223D
Applied Jazz Piano MUSC-226C
Bill Carter maintains a dual career as a jazz pianist and a Presbyterian minister. He is the leader of the Presbybop Quartet, one of the foremost musical ensembles creating jazz for the church.
A graduate of Binghamton University and Princeton Theological Seminary, Bill has taught jazz piano and jazz history at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania since 1998. Over the course of his career, he has studied or performed with renowned musicians such as Phil Woods, Jimmy Knepper, Jim McNeely, Bobby McFerrin, Donny McCaslin, Sherrie Maricle, Dave Brubeck, and David Liebman.
He has been composing and arranging jazz music for most of his adult life, first studying with Al Hamme of Binghamton University (who later became a founding member of the Presbybop Quartet) and recording over one hundred of his compositions on eleven CDs. Carter is regarded as a national authority on the use of jazz music in liturgical settings, and a growing number of his compositions are being performed in concert and worship formats.
Carter is the editor of the jazz hymnal, Swing a New Song to the Lord: Jazz Resources for Worship (2004), to which he contributed over two dozen compositions and arrangements. This publication includes over fifty submitted compositions by musicians such as Dave Brubeck, Chuck Marohnic, and Deanna Witkowski. It was funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment through a competitive grant program administered by Calvin College.
The Dancing Calvinist (2022), featuring “Lux Aeterna,” a jazz requiem in eight movements with vocals by The Lyric Consort, composed during the COVID-19 pandemic
Jazz for the Earth (2015), featuring “Beyond Banff,” a six movement “eco jazz” suite with NEA jazz master David Liebman as guest soloist
Jazz Noel DVD/CD (2013), a live Christmas jazz concert originally broadcast on PBS
Jazz Belongs in Church DVD (2012)
Interior Window (2011)
Psalms Without Words (2009)
A graduate of Binghamton University and Princeton Theological Seminary, Bill has taught jazz piano and jazz history at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania since 1998. Over the course of his career, he has studied or performed with renowned musicians such as Phil Woods, Jimmy Knepper, Jim McNeely, Bobby McFerrin, Donny McCaslin, Sherrie Maricle, Dave Brubeck, and David Liebman.
He has been composing and arranging jazz music for most of his adult life, first studying with Al Hamme of Binghamton University (who later became a founding member of the Presbybop Quartet) and recording over one hundred of his compositions on eleven CDs. Carter is regarded as a national authority on the use of jazz music in liturgical settings, and a growing number of his compositions are being performed in concert and worship formats.
Carter is the editor of the jazz hymnal, Swing a New Song to the Lord: Jazz Resources for Worship (2004), to which he contributed over two dozen compositions and arrangements. This publication includes over fifty submitted compositions by musicians such as Dave Brubeck, Chuck Marohnic, and Deanna Witkowski. It was funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment through a competitive grant program administered by Calvin College.
Presentations and Publications
Mr. Carter's recordings include:The Dancing Calvinist (2022), featuring “Lux Aeterna,” a jazz requiem in eight movements with vocals by The Lyric Consort, composed during the COVID-19 pandemic
Jazz for the Earth (2015), featuring “Beyond Banff,” a six movement “eco jazz” suite with NEA jazz master David Liebman as guest soloist
Jazz Noel DVD/CD (2013), a live Christmas jazz concert originally broadcast on PBS
Jazz Belongs in Church DVD (2012)
Interior Window (2011)
Psalms Without Words (2009)