Carol Williams grew up on a dairy farm near Omagh in the west of Northern Ireland. She studied piano from the age of 7 and French horn from the age of 14, playing in church, in local instrumental ensembles and singing in choirs.
At the age of 17 she moved to Cardiff to study music at the university. Under the professorship of Alun Hoddinott, Cardiff boasted one of the largest Music departments in the UK at the time, enabling students to have access to a full range of opportunities. Carol was privileged to participate in a wide variety of ensembles, performing in some of the earliest concerts at St David’s Hall in Cardiff and developing a particular love for choral music.
After a year training as a teacher in inner-city Belfast, Carol began teaching Music in secondary schools. Music teacher and Director of Music rôles followed at Holmfirth High School in West Yorkshire, West Mon School in Pontypool and Bassaleg School in Newport.
In all these schools, Carol was able to share her love of choral and instrumental music with fantastic young students, many of whom have made music their career, whether as opera singers, orchestral musicians or teachers.
Particularly enjoyable were school performances at the Menin Gate in Ypres, the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth at the Royal Festival Hall in London and Symphony Hall in Birmingham, the International Eisteddfod at Llangollen and the Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall.
Carol is currently a freelance musician, working as a choral director, a piano and voice tutor with Gwent Music and a music education specialist, providing courses aimed at improving teachers’ confidence in delivering the new National Plan for Music Education in Wales alongside the new curriculum.
Carol has sung with Cwmbrân Baroque Singers for 20 years, enjoying great performances at home and throughout Europe. She is keen to build on the choir’s excellent reputation and to welcome new choristers in all voice parts, extending a warm welcome to anyone who’d like to experience the joy of choral singing.