William Axt (April 19, 1888 – February 13, 1959) was an American composer of nearly two hundred film scores.
William Axt | |
---|---|
Born | April 19, 1888 New York City, New York, U.S. |
Died | February 13, 1959 Ukiah, California, U.S. | (aged 70)
Nationality | American |
Education | DeWitt Clinton High School National Conservatory of Music of America |
Alma mater | University of Chicago |
Occupation | Composer |
Born in New York City, Axt graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in The Bronx and studied at the National Conservatory of Music of America.[citation needed] He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Chicago in 1922.[1] He studied in Berlin under Xaver Scharwenka.[2]
Axt made his American debut as a conductor on December 28, 1910.[2]
He served as an assistant conductor for the Hammerstein Grand Opera Company and was a musical director for the Capitol Theatre in Manhattan before joining the music department at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1929.[citation needed]
Axt retired from the film industry to raise cattle and breed horses in Laytonville, California.[citation needed] He died in Ukiah, California, and had at least one son (Edward).[3]