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William Brooks is a Professor at the University of York and holds the title of Senior Research Fellow at the Orpheus Institute in Ghent, Belgium. He previously served as Associate Professor Emeritus of Composition at the University of Illinois, where he also held roles as director of the Contemporary Chamber Singers and Chair of the Composition-Theory Division for many years. His career includes periods of freelance composition, scholarship, and performance, as well as teaching at the University of California (1973-1977).
Brooks earned a B.A. in music and mathematics from Illinois Wesleyan University (1965), followed by an M.M. in musicology and a D.M.A. in composition-theory from the University of Illinois (1971 and 1976, respectively). His studies were shaped by mentors such as Charles Hamm, Ben Johnston, and Herbert Brün.
His research interests center on experimental music, John Cage studies, and interdisciplinary approaches to composition. He has explored themes like silence, musical pragmatics, postmodernism, and the intersection of medieval texts with contemporary music. Brooks remains active as both a composer and scholar, creating works such as Six Mediaeval Lyrics, A Wake of Music, and Metamorphoses, which incorporate surround sound, video projection, and collaborative performance.
His scholarly writings emphasize avant-garde practices and the philosophical dimensions of music. While no specific grants or advising records are listed, his leadership roles at the University of Illinois reflect his contributions to academic administration. He is affiliated with the Orpheus Institute, where his work likely intersects with their research on experimental arts.
