Biography

Dr. William Kenlon (b. 1983) is an American composer based in Dublin, Ireland. His music for chamber, choral, and jazz ensembles has been described as "pointed and groovy" (New Music Box), noted for its "lyrical personality that is original and strong," and praised for its sophisticated tonal explorations: "solid without being dense, clear without being sparse, and ever-changing without being random" (Boston Musical Intelligencer). Enjoying performances across the U.S. and in Europe—in venues as diverse as the Kennedy Center and the 9:30 Club—Kenlon has studied with composers from a variety of traditions and backgrounds, including John Hilliard, Jason Haney, Chuck Dotas, John McDonald, and Mark Edwards Wilson; he has also taken lessons with Forrest Pierce, Gabriela Lena Frank, Stacy Garrop, and Libby Larsen, among others. Kenlon has studied at McGill University and at the New England Conservatory, and holds the BMus degree (magna cum laude) from James Madison University, the MA from Tufts University, and the DMA from the University of Maryland, which he attended as a Flagship Fellow.

Among the ensembles that have read and/or performed Kenlon's music are the James Madison University Jazz Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra (Harrisonburg, VA); the Tufts Wind Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, New Music Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra (Boston); the QX Quartet (Worcester, MA); the East Coast Contemporary Ensemble (Boston); the Spektral Quartet (Chicago); Ensemble Nouveau Classical (New York); and Fifth House Ensemble (Chicago). He has received commissions from NotaRiotous (resident ensemble of the Boston Microtonal Society), the JMU Treble Chamber Choir, the Tufts Chamber Singers, mezzo-soprano D'Anna Fortunato (Boston), mezzo-soprano Lori Sen (Washington, DC), flutist Elizabeth Erenberg (Boston), Diffrazioni Sonore (Italy), the Six Degree Singers (Silver Spring, MD), and pianist John McDonald (Boston), the last four of which resulted in commercial CD releases. 

As a performer, William is a baritone; he divides his singing time between standard choral repertoire and brand new works for various vocal forces. In the latter category, he has performed many of his own song cycles and premiered works by Kevin Laba, Sid Richardson, Scott AuCoin, and Chris LaRosa. Education is also a vital part of his work as a musician; he has presented conference papers analyzing jazz improvisations, and has taught university and community courses in music theory, music appreciation, and jazz history. Another recent addition to his professional engagements has been adjudicating composition competitions, including those of the Music Teachers’ National Association and the American Trombone Workshop. At the University of Maryland, he was the Artistic Director of Tempo (the university's new music ensemble), as a member of the Arts & Humanities Graduate Advisory Board, the originator and inaugural leader of the UMD Composers' Colloquium, and as founding member and Vice President of the Eta Psi chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. From 2015-2025, he earned a reputation as one of the most prolific and in-demand composition teachers in the Washington, DC area, managing an active private studio and teaching at St. Mary’s College, University of Maryland, Catholic University, American University, and George Mason University. Prior to his move to Dublin, he served as Lecturer and Coordinator of Music Theory & Composition at Howard University, where he still teaches online courses.