Derek Williams
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Derek Williams began his musical career the age of six, studying the violin. Later, whilst a student at Nottingham High School, he became a member of the National Youth Orchestra. In demand as a soloist, both locally and beyond, his repertoire included most of the major violin concertos, including those by Barber, Beethoven, Elgar and Sibelius.
Derek’s interest in conducting began during a successful period in Bedford where founded the Bedford Festival Opera and conducted a number of local orchestras. At this time he studied conducting with Michael Rose, George Hurst, Colin Metters and Norman del Mar. In 1983 he returned to his home city of Nottingham to becoem Musical Director of the Nottingham Symphony Orchestra. Recent highlights with NSO have been conducting a special concert before HRH Queen Elizabeth at the opening of Nottingham's Ice Arena and, in November 2003 at Nottingham's Albert Hall, fulfilling a lifetime ambition conducting a performance of Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring' at a special concert in celebration of his 20 years with NSO.
Derek has toured extensively with the NYO of which he was co-founder, performed in a number of major venues and appeared in live radio and television broadcasts. in 1986 he was appointed senior string teacher at Nottingham High School and formed his own highly successful string quartet, 'Sounds Interesting'.
Derek is involved in a wide variety of local music-making, ranging from chamber music to large scale choral works such as Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Elgar's Dream of Gerontius and the Verdi Requiem. He was jointly responsible for the creation and success of the Natterjack Music Concerts, an innovative venture designed to bring classical music to children and young people. He has been highly praised for his rapport with audiences and is noted for his informative and informal approach in communicating with large audiences. Works tackled have been ambitious, often extending well beyond the standard repertoire.
Derek is the director of string music at Nottingham High School.
