Carol Williams (organist)

{{Infobox musical artist

| caption = Dr. Carol Williams

| image = File:CarolWilliams.jpg

| image_size =

| birth_name =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Great Britain

| origin =

| genre = Classical

| occupation = Organist, composer

| instrument = Pipe organ

| years_active = 1984–present

| label = Melcot Music

| associated_acts =

| website = http://www.melcot.com/

}}

Carol Anne Williams D.M.A., ARAM, FRCO, FTCL, ARCM (born 1972) is a British-born international concert organist and composer, now residing in America. She served from October 2001 and resigned her post in October 2016{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/sdut-san-diego-civic-organist-stepping-down-2016sep08-story.html|title=San Diego Civic Organist Carol Williams stepping down|first=George|last=Varga|website=sandiegouniontribune.com|date=8 September 2016 |accessdate=20 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2016/aug/30/balboa-park-organist-steps-down/|title=December 2018|date=30 August 2016 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/BalboaPark/posts/10153682474701260|title=Balboa Park|via=Facebook|accessdate=20 December 2018}}{{Primary source inline|date=July 2020}} as Civic Organist for the city of San Diego, California, performing regularly at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.{{Cite web |url=http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/spreckels-organ-pavilion |title=Spreckels Organ Pavilion {{pipe}} Balboa Park |access-date=23 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511095557/http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/spreckels-organ-pavilion |archive-date=11 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.thediapason.com/dp/index.cfm?fuseaction=showArticle&articleID=5417&learnMore=yes&CFID=9362354&CFTOKEN=48873025|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227080517/http://www.thediapason.com/dp/index.cfm?fuseaction=showArticle&articleID=5417&learnMore=yes&CFID=9362354&CFTOKEN=48873025|archivedate=27 February 2012|title=Civic Lesson: Carol Williams talks about life as San Diego's civic organist|date=27 February 2012|accessdate=20 December 2018}} She was formerly the Artist in Residence at St. Paul's Cathedral San Diego.{{cite web |url=http://www.stpaulcathedral.org/music-st-pauls-organ |title=St. Paul's Organ {{pipe}} St. Pauls Cathedral 4 the City |accessdate=18 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624021313/http://stpaulcathedral.org/music-st-pauls-organ |archivedate=24 June 2013 }}

Upon stepping down from her post as Civic Organist for the city of San Diego in October 2016, in recognition of her fifteen years of service, Carol was awarded the title of San Diego Civic Organist Emerita. Presently residing in her homeland country with her husband Kerry and their dog Wolfgang Amadeus Bell.

As a featured musician on many media platforms, she highlights her profound love for the "King of Instruments." Carol hosts TourBus, a documentary series exploring the large and small, famous and unique pipe organs of the world,[http://melcot.com/recordings.html "TourBus"], Bell Video and also, hosts a YouTube talk show series called "On The Bench with Dr. Carol" where she interviews musical artists.

File:Flight of the Bumblebee on Pipe Organ Pedals.webm" at the West Point Cadet Chapel.]]

Early life and education

Williams was born in Great Britain in a Welsh family with musical influences. She began private lessons at age five and was able to read music before she was reading English. Her formal training started with five years at the Royal Academy of Music where she specialised in the organ, performing as a student of David Sanger. She obtained the academy's prestigious Recital Diploma, together with the LRAM for both organ and piano. She was awarded all the major prizes for organ performing and, during her studies, she became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and a Fellow of Trinity College London, as well as an Associate of the Royal College of Music.

Williams has also studied with Daniel Roth, the Organist at the Church of St. Sulpice, Paris. Moving to the United States, Williams undertook postgraduate study at Yale University{{cite web|url=https://music.yale.edu/2013/11/08/carol-williams-98ad-first-american-woman-serve-civic-organist/|title=Carol Williams '98AD is first American woman to serve as civic organist|website=Yale School of Music|accessdate=20 December 2018}} under the direction of Thomas Murray. She was appointed University Chapel Organist and was awarded an Artist Diploma (AD) together with the Charles Ives Prize for outstanding achievement. She then relocated to New York City where she became the Associate Organist at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Long Island's Garden City. She undertook doctoral study under McNeil Robinson at the Manhattan School of Music, where she received the Helen Cohn award for her Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree.{{cite web|url=http://www.alumniconnections.com/s/1846/index.aspx?sid=1846&gid=1&pgid=60&cid=169&referer=&query=errors%2f404.aspx|title=System – Error 404|website=alumniconnections.com|accessdate=20 December 2018}}

Career

Williams has performed around the world, including: St. Sulpice and Notre Dame, Paris; Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles;{{cite web|url=http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/artist-detail.cfm?id=4041|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127111259/http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/artist-detail.cfm?id=4041|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 January 2013|title=Bio at Walt Disney Concert Hall|accessdate=20 December 2018}} Westminster Abbey; St Paul's Cathedral; King's College, Cambridge; The Queen's College, Oxford; Salisbury Cathedral;[http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/news.archive.php?id=191 bio at Salisbury Cathedral] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105111629/http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/news.archive.php?id=191 |date=5 January 2009 }} Blenheim Palace;{{cite web|url=http://melcot.com/blenheim/index.html|title=Carol at Blenheim Palace|website=melcot.com|accessdate=20 December 2018}} Woolsey Hall, Yale University; Memorial Chapel, Harvard University; St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York; Washington National Cathedral; St. Ignatius Loyola, New York; Riverside Church, New York. She has also given numerous concerts in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Monaco, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Singapore, China and Russia.

Williams has been elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in recognition of her contribution to music.

A regular broadcaster in the UK and in America, she has been the guest performer with a number of leading orchestras including the BBC Concert Orchestra, San Diego Symphony Orchestra and the Beijing Symphony Orchestra. She performed the inaugural recitals on a newly installed Austin organ in Beijing's Forbidden City Concert Hall.

Williams has been interviewed on many radio programs, in which she has highlighted her 'profound love' of the organ, and she is featured in the national-awareness video Pulling out all the Stops when she was filmed in concert at St. Thomas' Church on New York's Fifth Avenue. She also took part in the Virgil Fox Memorial Concert{{cite web|url=http://www.agohq.org/bulletin/docs2001/090100.html |title=Virgil Fox Memorial Concert |accessdate=23 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020223211828/http://www.agohq.org/bulletin/docs2001/090100.html |archivedate=23 February 2002 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.gothic-catalog.com/product_p/g-49122.htm|title=Virgil Fox Memorial Concert|website=The Gothic Catalog|accessdate=20 December 2018}} held in the fall of 2000 at New York's Riverside Church, and a recording of the event was released.

Williams also hosts a video series TourBus, which focuses on various pipe organs around the world as with the music, people and places associated with them.

Dr. Carol Williams™ is produced, managed and owned by Kerry Jay Bell

In October 2001, Williams became the first woman in the United States to be appointed Civic Organist. She served as the San Diego Civic Organist and Artistic director of the Spreckels Organ Society in San Diego, California from 2001 to 2016.[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/28/arts/music/28orga.html "With Jets Providing Accompaniment, a Rare City Treasure Stands Exposed"], The New York Times, 28 April 2007[http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/sdut-san-diego-civic-organist-stepping-down-2016sep08-story.html "San Diego Civic Organist Carol Williams stepping down"], The San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 September 2016[https://spreckelsorgan.org/2016/08/30/career-transition-for-dr-carol-williams/ "Career transition for Dr. Carol Williams"], Spreckels Organ Society, 30 August 2016 Williams performs an average of 75 concerts a year worldwide.

Williams regularly attracts new audiences to the pipe organ{{cite web|url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20120417/NEWS/104179894&Template=printart |title=Coming to Worcester, not your traditional organist |publisher=Telegram.com |date=1 April 2012|accessdate=20 December 2018}} with charismatic humor and programs of intense genre diversity, including collaborations with various jazz, blues, pop and rock bands.{{cite web|url=http://diffuser.fm/drive-like-jehu-spreckels-organ/|title=Drive Like Jehu Perform Reunion Gig with Spreckels Organ|first=Chuck|last=Armstrong|website=Diffuser.fm|date=September 2014 |accessdate=20 December 2018}} Concert patrons have received her live performances with 'rock star' enthusiasm.

Philanthropy

Williams performs about 20 hours of free organ concerts a year to raise awareness and funds for various charitable organisations.[http://www.redcross.org/news/event/ca/san-diego/FREE-Organ-Pavilion-Concert-benefitting-the-Red-Cross]{{dead link|date=December 2018}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.balboapark.org/calendar/event/2012-09-02/pipe-organ-marathon-concert-benefit-operation-rebound |title=Pipe Organ Marathon Concert to benefit Operation Rebound {{pipe}} Balboa Park |access-date=19 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607095531/http://www.balboapark.org/calendar/event/2012-09-02/pipe-organ-marathon-concert-benefit-operation-rebound |archive-date=7 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://operationrebound.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=471167&supid=358491335 |title=Blackbaud Internet Solutions – Online Events and Marketing Solutions |publisher=Operationrebound.kintera.org |date=2 April 2013 |accessdate=20 December 2018}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.balboapark.org/blogs/cosmos-doggie-blog/bark-park-7-offers-tail-wagging-fun-all |title=Bark in the Park 7 Offers Tail-Wagging Fun for All {{pipe}} Balboa Park |access-date=19 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216092518/http://www.balboapark.org/blogs/cosmos-doggie-blog/bark-park-7-offers-tail-wagging-fun-all#.USPP9uiahl8 |archive-date=16 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://presidiosentinel.com/entertainment/spreckels-organ-concert-benefits-the-san-diego-chapter-of-the-american-red-cross|title=Spreckels Organ Concert Benefits the San Diego Chapter of the American Red Cross : Presidio Sentinel|website=presidiosentinel.com|date=5 December 2013 |accessdate=20 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.performingartslive.com/Events/Spreckels-Organ-Pavilion-Civic-Organist-Carol-Williams-Hosts-12-Hour-Organ-Concert-Marathon-Benefiting-Wounded-Warriors-5242015|title=12-Hour Organ Concert Marathon – San Diego Civic Organist Dr. Carol Williams – Spreckels Organ Pavilion|website=performingartslive.com|accessdate=20 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q9o6RQ9Q7I |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/2Q9o6RQ9Q7I |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Dr. Carol Williams plays 12 straight hours in Balboa Park – 6 News|last=Dr. Carol Williams|date=13 July 2015 |accessdate=20 December 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDokY3P30eg|title=Dr. Carol Williams to play 12 hour concert at Balboa Park – 10 News|last=Dr. Carol Williams|accessdate=20 December 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cite web|url=https://timesofsandiego.com/arts/2014/12/31/civic-organist-plans-free-new-years-day-concert-spreckels/|title=Civic Organist Plans Free New Year's Day Concert at Spreckels|date=31 December 2014|accessdate=20 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://sandiegodowntownnews.com/give-us-a-home/|title=Give us a home!|date=7 August 2015|accessdate=20 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://ism.yale.edu/news/carol-williams-ad-97|title=Carol Williams (A.D. '97) – Institute of Sacred Music|website=ism.yale.edu|accessdate=20 December 2018}}

Compositions

Published by Melcot Music:

TourBus (For Organ and Drums)
Twilight Op.3 (For Organ)
Major Something, Non Fat Latte! Op.4 (For Organ)
Bonnie Eriskay (For Organ and Bagpipes)
Suite For Organ Op.5
Daisy Violin Op.6 (Violin and Organ)
Dragon Dance Op.7 (Violin and Organ)
Venus Toccata Op.9 (For Organ)
Three Thoughts Op.10 (For Piano)
Freedom Op.12 (For Organ)
Centennial Spreckels Fanfare Op.14 (For Organ)
Tiger Lilly Waltz (For Organ)
Divine Song Op.15 (For Organ and Voice)
For Michael Op.16 (For Piano)
Dietrich's Dilemma! Op.17 (For Organ)
Andromeda Op.19 (For Organ)
Sophie's Game (For Organ)
Backer's Bash Op.20 (for Organ)
Flight of the Bumble Bee (arr. C Williams)
The Magic of Sweet Briar Op.21 (for Organ)
Quick Fix Toccata! Op.22 (for Organ)
Symphony of Time Op.23 (for Organ)
Prismatic Op.24 (for Organ)
Glass of Hope Op.28
Hymn for Lent (Organ & Voice)
Christmas is Here (for Choir)
Mass for Lent (organ & Voice)
Sing Again! (Piano, Bass & Voice)

Discography

Produced by Melcot Music:{{cite web|url=http://melcot.com/recordings.html|title=TourBus video series and Carol Williams CDs|website=melcot.com|accessdate=20 December 2018}}