William Dawson

Musician In Residence & Semans/Byrd Performing Arts Coordinator

William Dawson spent time growing up in England, Australia, and The Netherlands before settling in the United States.  He has engineered and produced over 150 records, toured internationally performing with the platinum-selling Squirrel Nut Zippers, worked as an elementary school music teacher and middle school band director, and helped to found hospital-based music programs for pediatric patients at the UNC Hospital School and the Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center.  William studied music at The University of Memphis and graduated from North Carolina Central University (Summa Cum Laude) with a degree in Elementary Education.  He has been performing music for patients, families, and staff at UNC and Duke Hospitals since 2009.