Dr. William Dougherty

Assistant Professor

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Biography

William Dougherty is an American composer, sound artist, educator, and writer who joined the faculty at the University of Washington in January 2025. He has gained recognition for his compositions, which have been performed by various ensembles, including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Sun Ra Arkestra, and the JACK Quartet. His music has been featured at notable festivals and events such as Tectonics Festival Glasgow, IRCAM's ManiFeste, and the New York Philharmonic Biennale. Dougherty has been the recipient of the Luciano Berio Rome Prize in Music Composition and has received various other awards and fellowships from prestigious institutions including Harvard University's Radcliffe Institute and Columbia University's Institute for Ideas and Imagination. He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Columbia University and previously taught at Temple University. Dougherty has also completed studies at the Royal College of Music in London and participated in the Cursus Programme for composition and computer music at IRCAM in Paris.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor

2025-01-01 — Present

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

Joined the faculty of the School of Music.

Faculty, Composition

— Present

Temple University • Philadelphia, PA

Taught courses in composition.

Courses

First-Year Theory III ElectroAcoustic Music: History Analysis Introductory Composition Topics Analysis American Music First-Year Theory Analysis Twentieth-Century Music: 1950 - Present

Requirements for University of Washington

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:80
IELTS
Overall
Required:6.5
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:105
Overall
Required:105
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Resume/CV
  • English proficiency scores (for international students)
Specialization Notes

Standard Graduate School requirements for University of Washington apply to most departments listed unless specified otherwise by the program.