William Karlins (1932 – 2005) was born in New York City and earned his B.M. and M.M. from the Manhattan School of Music and his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1965. He was the Harry N. and Ruth F. Wyatt professor of music theory and composition Emeritus at Northwestern University for the majority of his adult life. He has an extensive catalog ranging from large orchestral and chamber works to solo and choral pieces that are widely performed in the United States and abroad by prominent ensembles, soloists, and even radio and television stations.
Karlins was a visiting composer at many universities in the United States and Canada. In 1991, he was composer-in-residence at the 6éme Stage de Saxophone, at which time he was honored as "de chevalier du Maréchalat des Cútes de Duras." He was also composer-in-residence at World Saxophone Congresses in Washington, D.C., London, Bordeaux, and Nuremberg. In 1995, he was guest composer and lecturer at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, and the Franz Liszt Musical College in Györ, Hungary. In 1999, he was lecturer at the Wiener Hochschule für Musik Festival.
Karlins’ music is published by many leading publishers in the United States and Europe. He was a member of BMI and the American Music Center, the American Composers Alliance, where he served on the National Advisory Board and Board of Governors. He was a National Arts Associate of Sigma Alpha Iota.
