Dr. William Oliver
Director of University Bands/Assistant Professor of Music
Dr. William P. Oliver is the Director of University Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas. A native of Hollywood,
Florida, Dr. Oliver leads the university’s music education teacher preparation program and serves as faculty advisor to both the HT Theatre Guild and the Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Dr. Oliver earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Florida A&M University, a Master’s degree from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in Music Education with a minor in Higher Education Administration from The Pennsylvania State University. His doctoral dissertation examined institutional isomorphism in HBCU music programs and how these curricula align—or conflict—with their institutions’ broader cultural missions. His current research focuses on the development and expansion of graduate-level fine arts programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Prior to entering higher education, Dr. Oliver spent a decade teaching high school music in Atlanta, Georgia, where he earned a reputation for excellence in teaching and leadership. He is a seven-time recipient of the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence, recognizing his outstanding contributions to music education and his ensembles’ distinguished performance history. In 2023, he was named one of Yamaha’s “40 Under 40” for his vision, innovation, and the transformational growth of Huston-Tillotson’s music program. Under his leadership, the HT music program has secured a series of competitive grants and strategic partnerships with organizations such as Pandora/SiriusXM, UNCF, the Tejemos Foundation, and other national arts funders— significantly expanding student access, scholarship support, and both domestic and international performancebased learning experiences.
Dr. Oliver serves on the board of the Austin Theatre Alliance (Paramount and State Theatres) and is a member of the Program Committee for Austin Soundwaves, a nonprofit that expands access to high-quality music education across Central Texas. He remains active as a band clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc., and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Outside of his professional work, Dr. Oliver finds his greatest inspiration at home in Austin with his wife, Alexandra, and their two children, Maverick and Indigo.
