Dr. Dennis Williams
Adjunct Faculty of Choral Conducting and Choral Education
Biography
Dr. Dennis Williams has served on the music faculties of six colleges and universities, both sacred and secular, teaching courses in Conducting, Music History, Music Appreciation, Voice, Piano, Music Education, and directing ensembles and musical theatre productions. Dr. Williams specializes in conducting masterpieces from the major choral-orchestral repertoire.
A life-long church musician, Dr. Williams has also served in 15 churches across the US and Europe, in both professional and volunteer positions, as Minister of Music, Director of Music, Organist, Pianist, or Youth Choir Director. He has recently released his book entitled Firepower for the Church Musician which is available at all ebook stores.
Dr. Williams is a frequent adjudicator and clinician at music festivals and competitions.
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Tenured Associate Professor of Music, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA. 1997-2013
Conducted University Choir, Bear Voices a cappella ensemble, Chamber Singers; directed
Visiting Professor of Music, Marietta College, Marietta, OH. 1994-97
Conducted choirs; taught private voice and voice classes; directed musical theatre; conducted annual college/community production of Handel's Messiah.
Instructor of Music, Washington State Community College, Marietta, OH. 1994-97
Assistant Professor/Director of Choral Activities, Milligan College, Milligan College, TN. 1987-93
Taught conducting, private voice, vocal pedagogy, voice class
Assistant Professor/Director of Choral Activities, North Greenville College, Tigerville, SC. 1985-87
Taught conducting, private voice and music fundamentals; conducted Concert Choir and North Greenville Singers Show Choir; organized and directed annual choir tour.
Instructor of Music, Southern Baptist Seminary School of Music, Louisville, KY. 1982-85
Taught conducting, sight-singing, score-reading
Vocal Music Teacher, Eastside Junior/Senior High School, Butler, IN. 1973-74
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Conductor, Reading Civic Theatre Society, Reading, PA. 2001-2013
Artistic Director and Conductor, Parkersburg Choral Society, Parkersburg, WV. 1996-97
Director of Music, Theatre Bristol, Bristol, TN. 1993-94
Music Critic, The Greenville News, Greenville, SC. 1985-87
Director of Music, Performing Arts Theatre, Brussels, Belgium. 1975-79
Music Director, Special Services Entertainment Theatre, Fort Riley, KS. 1972-73
CERTIFICATION
Indiana State Vocal and Instrumental Music in Grades K-12
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Federation of Musicians
National Association for Music Education
American Choral Directors Association
Indiana Music Education Association
College Music Society
Indiana University Alumni Association
Conductors Guild
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Paper delivered at international professional
“Performance Anxiety” at the International Conference on Humanities and the Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii. By invitation. reviewed. Jan. 2012
Regional award.
“Best Musical” for Lucky Stiff, The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival XXXIX presented by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. By invitation only. Jan. 2009
Literary Agent.
Represented by the Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency.
Guest conducting engagements.
Guest Orchestra Conductor for Sessione Senese per la Musica e l’Arte, the Summer Music Session at the University of Siena in Tuscany, Italy. Jul. 2012
Guest Choral Conductor for the Allentown Diocesan Music Festival of Catholic schools from Allentown, Bethlehem, and Reading, Holy Name High School, Reading, PA. Feb. 2010
Guest Choral Conductor for the Annual Berks County Senior High Choral Festival, Daniel Boone High School, Douglassville, PA. Jan. 2010
Guest Orchestra Conductor for the Reading Pops Orchestra, Reading, PA. Dec. 2006
Guest directing engagements.
Orchestra Director for the Reading Civic Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast. May 2006
Orchestra Director for the Reading Civic Theatre’s production of 1776. May 2005
Publications.
Firepower for the Church Musician. Available at all ebook stores. Feb. 2016
“Performance Anxiety and the Fight or Flight Syndrome” published in The International Journal of Literature and Art Studies, by invitation. Blind peer reviewed. May 2012
Adjudications.
Guest Adjudicator, Music in the Parks Festival, Dorney Park, Pennsylvania, Jun. 2012
Guest Adjudicator, Reading Musical Foundation Scholarship Auditions, Reading, PA. Apr. 2012
Guest Adjudicator, Reading Musical Foundation Scholarship Auditions, Reading, PA. Mar. 2011
Guest Adjudicator, National Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA. Feb. 2011
Guest Adjudicator, Governor Mifflin Choral Adjudication, Reading, PA. Apr. 2010
Guest Adjudicator, Reading Symphony Orchestra League Scholarship Auditions, Reading, PA. Jan. 2010
Guest Adjudicator, National Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions, Moravian College, Nov. 2009
Guest Adjudicator, Governor Mifflin Choral Adjudication, Reading, PA. Apr. 2009
Guest Adjudicator, Reading Music Foundation Scholarship Auditions, Reading, PA. Mar. 2009
Guest Adjudicator, Music in the Parks Festival, Dorney Park, PA. May 2009
Guest Adjudicator, National Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA. Feb. 2009
Guest Adjudicator, Music in the Parks Festival, Dorney Park, PA. May 2008
Guest Adjudicator, National Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA. Feb. 2008
Guest Adjudicator, Music in the Parks Festival, Dorney Park, PA. Jun. 2007
Guest Adjudicator, Music in the Parks Festival, Dorney Park, PA. Jun. 2006
Guest Adjudicator, Governor Mifflin Choral Adjudication, Reading, PA. Apr. 2006
Degrees
-
D.M.A. - Conducting, Choral and Instrumental Music
1985, Southern Baptist Seminary School of Music
Garrett Fellow -
M.C.M. - Conducting, Choral and Instrumental Music
1981, Southern Baptist Seminary School of Music -
B.M.E.
1970, Indiana University School of Music
Teaching Area Major, Choral and Instrumental Music