Dr. William Seymour

Seymour, Dr. William M.



Dr. William M. Seymour, 86, passed away on February 3, 2017. Bill was born May 24, 1930 in Hillsboro, Illinois, to local pharmacist Harold Raymond Seymour and his wife Celia (Scinitches) Seymour. Bill was the oldest of four children and had two sisters, Anna Marie and Betty Jo, and a brother, Harold.



In 1962, Bill was hired by the University of New Mexico Department of Music. He taught piano, low brass instruments, and courses in music education, musical behavior, piano pedagogy, music aesthetics, and psychology. He also served as advisor to all the students in the department, which often numbered around 350. He served as department chair from 1970 to 1973 and for a time was Assistant Dean of the College of Fine Arts.



As a classical piano soloist, Bill performed with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque and Sierra Woodwind Quintet. As a jazz performer, he appeared at venues in San Francisco, St. Louis and Kansas City. He held an Ed.D. degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a degree from the Music and Art College in St. Louis.



In 1993, he received the Teacher of the Year Award from the UNM College of Fine Arts and was inducted into the New Mexico Music Educators Hall of Fame. He retired in 1993, but continued to teach piano and classes in piano improvisation and piano pedagogy, and to pursue his research in music and neuroscience.



Bill will be remembered fondly by the many students and friends whose lives he touched. Interment will be at the Santa Fe National Cemetery on Tuesday, March 14, at 12:45 p.m. A celebration of his life will be held later, date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made either to the William Seymour Memorial Scholarship for Music or to the William Seymour Collaborative Piano Scholarship Endowment at the UNM Department of Music (checks may be made to the UNM Foundation, 700 Lomas NE, Suite 108, Albuquerque, NM 87102), or to the charity of your choice. Please contact FRENCH - University for updated information at

www.FrenchFunerals.com