William DeFotis Biography

William DeFotis (1953-2003) Bill DeFotis, 1953-2003, was a W&M composer who impacted the lives of students and colleagues during his time in the Department of Music. The Ewell Concert Series' Percussion Group Cincinnati concert is dedicated to his memory.

From the Daily Press, January 25, 2003:

William DeFotis's interests and enthusiasm were boundless. He obtained his doctoral degree in orchestral conducting from the Universtiy of Iowa and was an eclectic composer and vibrant teacher of both music and women's studies at the College of William and Mary. As a passionate musician, conductor, intellectual, and human being, Dr. DeFotis possessed both a deep understanding of the analytical and scholarly, as well as an irrepressible enthusiasum for the emotional and spiritual values of music and the arts in general, which can be experienced on his CD, "Satire is Serious Business." His devotion to his students and inimitable charm are deeply missed by all who knew him.