Enjoy Singing?Join us in the beautiful setting of St Machar's Cathedral to sing Haydn's Creation in support of the Cathedral's nominated charities, Aberdeen Counselling and Information Service and The Leprosy Mission Scotland.
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CONDUCTOR
Dr Roger B Williams MBE
The 'Come and Sing' event will be conducted by the Organist and Director of Music of St Machar's Cathedral, Dr Roger B Wiliams MBE.
Born in Swansea, Dr Williams graduated BMus with honours from University College Cardiff before gaining a PhD at King's College Cambridge for research on the early works of Schoenberg. Dr Williams spent eight years in London as a free-lance conductor, singer, organist, harpsichordist and composer. He held various church appointments whilst also running a small opera company, singing with the BBC Singers and performing at major London concert venues. He was, briefly, Head of the Chiswick Evening Music Centre and Lecturer at the West London Institute. In 1978 Dr Williams took up the post of Lecturer in the Music Department at Aberdeen University, being later appointed Senior Lecturer and Head of Department. During the 1980s he conducted the Aberdeen section of the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and was for five years Chorus Master to the Scottish National Orchestra (now RSNO), working with many of today’s greatest conductors. He has an active recording career, and has given recitals at King’s College, Cambridge, Durham and Guildford cathedrals, New Orleans, Clermont Ferrand and Entrevaux in France, St. Stephan’s Cathedral, Vienna, the Priory Church of Bolton Abbey. Yorkshire, and at Union Chapel, Islington. Until his retirement in 2010, Dr Williams was Master of Chapel and Ceremonial Music and Organist at Aberdeen University, sharing his time with teaching in the Music Department and the following year was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the University of Aberdeen. He continues to teach and work in Aberdeen, where he has enjoyed a long association with the Haddo House Choral & Operatic Society. He is currently researching the music collections of Scottish castles and country houses. Dr Williams was made MBE in the Honours list of 2009. For the last 15 years he has organized the highly successful Lunchbreak series of 35 concerts for the City of Aberdeen. As Music Advisor to the National Trust for Scotland he is currently researching the holdings of musical instruments and music collections in their properties. |