| Peter J. Wilhousky | |
| Birth Date: | 13 July 1902 |
| Birth Place: | Passaic, New Jersey, US |
| Death Place: | Norwalk, Connecticut, US |
| Occupation: | Director of music in New York City schools and conductor of the New York All-City High School Chorus |
| Known For: | English language setting of "Carol of the Bells"; arrangement of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" |
Peter J. Wilhousky (Ukrainian: Пітер (Петро) Вільговський; 13 July 1902 – 4 January 1978) was an American composer, music educator, and choral conductor of Ruthenian descent.[1] [2] [3] During his childhood he was part of New York's Ukrainian Cathedral Boys Choir and gave a performance at the White House to President Woodrow Wilson.[4] He was featured on several broadcasts of classical music with Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra, including the historic 1947 broadcast of Verdi's opera Otello.
In 1936, Wilhousky wrote a popular English version of the Ukrainian song "Shchedryk" by Mykola Leontovych and called it "Carol of the Bells". Wilhousky's 1944 choral arrangement of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959 with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Grammy-winning performance, and has become "arguably the most well-known choral arrangement of a hymn or anthem in the United States."[5] [6] [7]
As a choral director in New York City, he influenced the future careers of musician Julius La Rosa and scientist Stephen Jay Gould.[8]
Wilhousky passed away in 1978 on January 4th at the age of 75, from cancer at Norwalk Hospital. Wilhousky Street in Manville, New Jersey is named after him.[9]