T. J. Anderson

Thomas Jefferson “T.J.” Anderson, Jr. (born August 17, 1928) is an American composer, conductor, orchestrator and educator. Early life Born in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Anderson has written over 80 works ranging from operas and symphonies to choral pieces, chamber music, and band music. He has composed commissioned works for the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and cellist Yo Yo Ma. Education The beginning of his college education was at West Virginia State University. He then attended Pennsylvania State University and received his bachelor’s degree there in music. Afterwards at that same school in 1951 he got his master’s degree in music education. He earned a Ph.D. in composition from the University of Iowa in 1958, and was Austin Fletcher Professor of Music Emeritus at Tufts University, from 1972 to his retirement in 1990. Work and musical influence Anderson worked at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma, as a music professor from 1958 to 1963. There, he became the chair of the music department. He was professor of music at Tennessee State University from 1963 to 1969. While there, he was named composer in residence with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He had a three