music.wikisort.org - Composer

Peter J. Wilhousky (Ukrainian: Пітер (Петро) Вільговський; 13 July 1902 – 4 January 1978) was an American composer, educator, and choral conductor of Rusyn or Ukrainian ethnic extraction. During his childhood he was part of New York's Rusyn Cathedral Boys Choir and gave a performance at the White House to President Woodrow Wilson.[1] He was featured on several broadcasts of classical music with Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra, including the historic 1947 broadcast of Verdi's opera Otello. In 1936, he wrote an English versions of the popular song by Mykola Leontovych "Shchedryk" and called it "Christmas carol "Carol of the Bells". His arrangement of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" for chorus, band, and orchestra[2] is probably the most famous arrangement of the hymn before the 1940s in the United States^{[citation needed]}.

Peter J. Wilhousky
Born	13 July 1902 Passaic, New Jersey, US
Died	4 January 1978(1978-01-04) (aged 75) Norwalk, Connecticut, US
Citizenship	United States
Occupation	Director of music in New York City schools and conductor of the New York All-City High School Chorus
Known for	English language setting of "Carol of the Bells," arrangement of "Battle Hymn of the Republic"

Former students

As a choral director in New York City, he influenced the future careers of musician Julius La Rosa and scientist Stephen Jay Gould.[3]

References

External links

• Peter J. Wilhousky (1902-1978), Prominent Carpatho-Rusyns
• Wilhousky biography

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