Conductor John McLaughlin Williams has been critically acclaimed for his outstanding interpretive abilities and engaging podium presence. In 2007, he received a Grammy for Conducting, becoming the first African American conductor to be awarded a Grammy.
Williams' conducting experience includes work with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and The Boston Lyric Opera/Opera New England, just to name a few.
Williams is an active violin soloist, pianist, and chamber musician. At age 14 he appeared as violin soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra. More recently, he was a member of the Houston Symphony, Concertmaster of the Virginia Symphony, and has appeared as violin soloist with many orchestras, including the Boston Pops Orchestra.
Also active as a composer/arranger, Williams has written string arrangements and performed with Bruce Hornsby's Harbor Lights (BMG), and music for the sound track to Mr. Dreyfus Goes to Washington, a documentary for The History Channel. Williams is also known for his advocacy of African American and minority composers, and has given premier performances of the works of William Grant Still.
