Grammy Award-winning Conductor John McLaughlin Williams has been critically acclaimed for his outstanding interpretive abilities and engaging podium presence. Equally at home in the standard literature and the masterworks of American composers, it was with the release of his critically praised recordings on the Naxos label that his conducting first attracted international attention. For Naxos’ celebrated “American Classics” series, Williams worked with the National Symphony and Radio Orchestras of Ukraine on world-premiere recordings of orchestral works by composers both well-known and neglected by history. He has been praised in international publications, among them Fanfare, Gramophone, Classic FM, International Record Review, American Record Guide, and the French recording journal Diapason. His recordings appear on labels such as Naxos, TNC, Artek, Cambria, and Afka.
In 2007 Williams was awarded a Grammy for the TNC recording of Messiaen’s L’Oiseau Exotiques with Angelin Chang and the Cleveland Chamber Symphony. Additional recognition came in 2009 and 2011 when he was awarded further Grammy nominations for his conducting in recordings of concerti by Ernest Bloch and Benjamin Lees with violinist Elmar Oliveira, and for “Quincy Porter: Complete Viola Works”. He is also a recipient of the Geraldine C. & Emory M. Ford Award for American Conductors.
Williams has conducted both nationally and internationally for such orchestras as the Dallas Symphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Classic FM Orchestra (Bulgaria), Chicago Sinfonietta, Cleveland Chamber Symphony, The Britt Festival, and many others. In the popular realm, he conducted for R&B superstars Al Jarreau, Brian McKnight, The Winans, Terrence Blanchard, B Slade, as well as the celebrated Celtic band Colcannon, among others. Williams also conducted for televised events on FOX and UPN, while his composition/arrangement credits include the soundtrack to Mr. Dreyfuss Goes to Washington (History Channel documentary starring Richard Dreyfuss), alongside Michael Kamen (Lethal Weapon, Die Hard), and arranging, as well as orchestrating the National Song of the Cayman Islands (“Beloved Isle Cayman”) for the official use of the nation’s government.
Williams is also a virtuoso violin soloist, pianist, and chamber musician. He began violin studies at age 10 in a Washington, D.C. public school. At age 14 he appeared as soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared as soloist with orchestras such as the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, South Carolina Philharmonic, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, the Portland Symphony Orchestra and others. Williams served as Concertmaster of the Virginia Symphony and was a member of the Houston Symphony. As guest concertmaster he has appeared with the Bolshoi Ballet, Kirov Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Pennsylvania Ballet, the Opera Company of North Carolina, and the Portland Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops Orchestra, and was Assistant Concertmaster of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra.
In 2017, John McLaughlin Williams arranged the National Song of the Cayman Islands (“Beloved Isle Cayman”).
Composed in 1930 by Leila Ross-Shier in a parlor waltz style, it was regarded unofficially as the country’s National Song for decades and was adopted officially as that in 1993. The nation has lacked a version that can be played at official and international events. John McLaughlin Williams was commissioned by Ross-Shier’s family to create something that would be representative of the beauty of the Song and the nation. It was recorded by the Northwest Sinfonia in Seattle and conducted by Williams himself.
John McLaughlin Williams co-composed the soundtrack, alongside Michael Kamen (Lethal Weapon, Die Hard), to Mr. Dreyfuss Goes to Washington (History Channel documentary starring Richard Dreyfuss).
Quincy Porter: Complete Viola Works
Celebrated American composer Quincy Porter (1897-1966) developed a unique music style and sound as a result of his studies in France with André Caplet and Vincent d’Indy, and in New York with Ernest Bloch. Porter’s music has a singing quality, possessing genuine rhythmic verve and is always fresh, spontaneous, independent, intellectual, and at the same time emotionally vital. Howard Hanson, stated that “Porter’s strings weave golden strands of melody, and his harmonies re-create for the ear of the listener the spirit of beauty.”
As a violist, Porter created for his instrument an important, enduring, and stimulating body of musical literature. For the very first time, all of Porter’s works for viola have been recorded and are available on this disc. Performed by Cleveland Orchestra violist Eliesha Nelson, in collaboration with GRAMMY winner John McLaughlin Williams, and San Francisco Symphony principal harpist Douglas Rioth, this recording is a must for anyone interested in the repertoire of the viola or American music.
Two Pieces for the Viola Composed by John McLaughlin Williams
1. Sarabande
2. Toccata
Conducting
Violin Performance
Piano Performance
Conducting
Violin Performance
Composing
“…the real star is John McLaughlin Williams, who not only conducts Porter’s concerto, but also joins Nelson on violin and piano.” – Howard Goldstein, BBC Music Magazine
“Three recording premieres for the American Hadley, accessible and enthusiastically played…Another Naxos rediscovery among North American romantics. Williams and the Ukrainian players really make the most of these first recordings and there’s an informative CD booklet: it all lifts Hadley deservedly from history into sound at a stroke.” – Peter Dickinson, Gramophone
“The musical lines and shapes that result from Rosner’s modality are harder to perform than they sound, and the excellent John McLaughlin Williams leads the orchestra through very strong renditions of both works…” – Carson Cooman, Fanfare
“John McLaughlin Williams, although a relatively young conductor, has an enviable discography so far. I can’t praise his work enough. I have no idea how good an orchestra the Ukraine has, but Williams makes it sound very close to top rank.” – Steven Schwartz, Classical Net
“John McLaughlin Williams accompanies perfectly, balancing the orchestra with a sure ear. Throughout, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine plays with the utmost dedication and with a spirit of discovery that is simply infectious, faultlessly guided by Williams. Impressive.” – Colin Clarke, Fanfare
“The National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine responds splendidly to its guest American conductor John McLaughlin Williams, who is completely and convincingly at one with this music. He creates a fine sound from the string sections and unlike many orchestras from this part of the world, the winds and brass play with utter sensitivity, fine solo sounds where applicable and with spot-on intonation and tone. How interesting it is that a fine American conductor recording first-rate American music has to travel to the other side of the globe to bring it to life.” – Kevin Sutton, MusicWeb
“John McLaughlin Williams delivers absolutely masterful and deeply engrossing readings… In fact, Williams, a child prodigy who is also an accomplished violinist and is here making his recording debut, is a genuine find.” – Paul A. Snook, Fanfare
“Here, as elsewhere, John McLaughlin Williams moulds the changing moods and colours with tremendous confidence and the Ukraine musicians capture Hadley’s idiom as to the manner born…”— Jeremy Nicholas, International Record Review
“Williams and the Kiev-based orchestra outdo themselves on this CD with first-class playing and committed interpretations; I wouldn’t expect to hear better anywhere.” — Raymond Tuttle Classical Net
“One of the most beautiful florets of the American collection of Naxos, and a conductor whom one hopes to hear again often” 5 Diapasons—Diapason (France)
“Recording, performances and documentation are each admirable. The conductor is to be watched for the future…however we must not be surprised if his name is soon linked to the likes of the Dallas or Minnesota orchestras.” — Rob Barnett
“John McLaughlin Williams, a graduate of the Cleveland Institute Of Music, conducts vibrant performances. He invests energy where it is needed and emphasizes the tenderness that pervades many pages of Carpenter’s scores.” – Donald Rosenberg, The Plain Dealer
“To be honest, we were hesitant to order this CD when it first came out, as we had been underwhelmed by some of this orchestra’s earlier recordings. However, since Maestro Williams made his Naxos recording debut with the orchestra in June of 1999, its sound has improved considerably. Whatever he’s doing, we hope it continues.” – John McGrody, Network Chicago
“If Nelson is star of this show, John McLaughlin Williams is its master of all trades. He is conductor of the Northwest Sinfonia, a Seattle-based ensemble, which he leads through a gorgeous performance of Porter’s sumptuously scored Viola Concerto; sits at the piano for the Speed Etude, Blues Lontains, and Poem; takes on the harpsichord in the Duo for Viola and Harpsichord; and plays violin in the Duo for Violin and Viola. His violin credentials are especially impressive. He served as concertmaster for the Virginia Symphony and as guest concertmaster for the Portland Symphony Orchestra and the Bolshoi, Kirov, and American Ballet Theater orchestras.” – Jerry Dubins, Fanfare
“He presided authoritatively, drawing articulate and sonorous playing from the …musicians… Williams and company gave the work a concentrated performance in which every detail mattered.” – Donald Rosenberg, The Plain Dealer
“…he exhibited a big, luscious tone with lots of oomph…” – Richard Buell, Boston Globe
“…played with a beautiful singing tone…perfectly poised…” – Richard Dyer, Boston Globe
“…(his playing showed) a combination of energy and effortlessness…” – Patriot Ledger
“…Williams showed…his virtuosity…played with bravura…” – The State
“(Williams played) with clarity, superb technique and an impassioned touch…” – The Enterprise
“John McLaughlin Williams was an expert soloist…” – Boston Globe
“…he displayed his abilities by handling the tricky…passages with ease and catching the buoyant quality of this work.” – Daily Press