By Karla Rodriguez
William Thomas Linthicum-Blackhorse hasn’t had an unhappy day since going back to what he loves.
Blackhorse, a graduate student at Texas Tech, composed the music for the short film “KISS,” nominated by the Chinese American Film Festival for a 2015 Golden Angel Award—the Chinese equivalent of a U.S. Academy Award. Although the film did not win, another Chinese filmmaker approached Blackhorse to compose the music for a Chinese series’ pilot, said Peter Fischer, the young composer’s mentor.
Blackhorse (second from right) at an award ceremony of the Chinese American Film Festival last week. Picture provided by Blackhorse.
Blackhorse, 26, began composing at 11 and taking piano lessons at 14. But his trajectory to fame was not a straightforward one.
Unlike most other musicians, Blackhorse’s bachelor’s degree is in aerospace science. His parents discouraged him from studying music at the collegiate level.
“My dad once commented that college wasn’t worth a music degree,” Blackhorse said.
Initially accepted into Baylor University to study music, Blackhorse learned that his father would not support him financially unless he changed his major.
“I was only 17, so I didn’t know any better,” he said. “I didn’t know that I could get loans or that there were other financial means out there to take care of myself, go to a college of my choice, and do what I wanted without my parents’ approval.”
At 20, Blackhorse became depressed and dropped out of school for a semester.
“I was just sick and tired of school,” he said. “I was just so unhappy. I wasn’t doing what I wanted to do. I saw all these other people doing music, and I wanted to do it so bad, but I wasn’t able to.”
After battling depression, Blackhorse completed his undergraduate studies and went to graduate school in Montana. He began doctoral studies in wildfire management, but soon left the program.
“All I did up there was work on science on the computer, drink alcohol and get really fat,” he said. “I started taking some music classes to get ready for music school.”
After turning down job offers from NASA, Blackhorse decided to pursue his passion for music and composing. He kept this decision a secret from everyone, including his parents.
“I didn’t talk to my dad for a while because he would make me upset,” Blackhorse said. “It would just be the blame game and the guilt trip; I didn’t want that.”
He applied to many schools, but was repeatedly rejected because of his lack of academic background in music.
Fischer, an associate professor of music at Texas Tech, was skeptical about accepting Blackhorse, but decided to take a gamble and give him the opportunity no other school would.
“I looked at some of the pieces he had and told him there might be some catching up to do, but that if he didn’t mind, he could be accepted on some form of probation,” Fischer said.
Blackhorse agreed and ended up passing all the entrance exams. This exempted him from having to catch up, Fischer said.
“I was very impressed with him,” Fischer said. “Everything he started to take on, he did with professionalism and with an advance that was beyond what you would expect from his earlier training.”
David E. Becker, director of orchestral studies in the School of Music at Texas Tech, said he is teaching Blackhorse in his conducting course this semester, and is very impressed with his attitude and discipline.
“He really wants to do this. He wants to compose music and do well,” Becker said. “He likes working with musicians, conducting, singing, performing and he’s pursuing that on a graduate level.”
Although he does not regret his science degree, Blackhorse wishes he could have pursued his musical ambitions earlier.
Blackhorse in New York City in 2014. Picture provided by Blackhorse.
“A lot of people say everything happens for a reason,” he said. “Not everything happens for a reason. Everything happens because you make it happen.”
His advice: No matter what people tell you, follow your passion.
“In the end, regardless of how much debt you end up in with loans and what not, you’ll be a much happier person,” he said.
But those not passionate about their major should probably finish the race if they have passed the halfway point. “Get the degree,” Blackhorse said.
It’s important to prove to yourself and the world that you can accomplish what is expected, he added.
“Even if you don’t have the opportunity to do what you want right away, do what you have to, to get to the point where you can be independent,” Blackhorse said. “Then do what you want.”
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