Catalogue of Works Performances of Works Professional and Community Involvement
Background and Education
Williametta Spencer graduated from High School
in Ann Arbor, Michigan where she was a piano
student of Jeannette Haien and a clarinet
student of Dwight Dailey from the University
of Michigan and was a member of a Piano Trio
coached by Elizabeth Holborn.
After moving to California, she attended Whittier College
earning a B.A. degree with a major in piano and composition.
At Whittier she studied piano with Margaretha Lohmann and
composition with MaryO VanDeman. Following this she earned
a M.M. degree at the University of Southern California, studying
with Ernst Kanitz, Halsey Stevens, Ingolf Dahl and Pauline
Alderman and composing a String Quartet for the Master's
Thesis. A Fulbright Scholarship followed for study in
composition at Paris, France with composer Tony Aubin and
the Master Piano Class of Alfred Cortot.
Dr. Spencer earned the PhD degree also at the University of
Southern California where she was a student of Arend Kolle and
Pierre Tagman writing a dissertation on the title: The Influence
and Stylistic Heritage of Andre Caplet. Extensive study in 20th
Century Art History and a Composition Recital were also included.