User:Williamsilk1

William Robert Jude Silk Conductor and Composer(1976 - )
William received the degree BMus (Performance) in 2002 specializing in Vocal Production (Opera) and Conducting under Colleen Philp and Dr. Markus Detterbeck. He then went on to obtain the degree MMus Performance from the University of Kwa Zulu-Natal, specializing in Choral and Orchestral Conducting under the leadership of Bunny Ashleigh Botha and Dr. David Smith. William was a member and soloist of the renowned S.A.N.D.F Church Choir and Concert Group, (Canaries) with whom he toured the country performing in more than 300 concerts in 2 years. William appeared as a soloist in Bach’s Cantata 147 (Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben ) and played roles in University productions of Lakme, Porgy and Bess, Idomeneo and Down in the Valley. He also played the role as Mr. Beaver in a Durban Singers Studio production of the children’s opera, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. In 2002, he played the role of the English officer, Duncan, in the World Premier of Opera Africa’s Princess Magogo, as well as numerous roles in the World Premier of the epic musical Far from the Madding Crowd of which he was the Musical Director as well. William has conducted numerous choirs including the world-renowned Drakensberg Boys’ Choir, Durban Boys’ Choir, The South African National Youth Choir, Durban Chamber Choir, Newcastle Chamber Choir, Newcastle High School Boys’ and Girls’ Choir’s, Ferrum High School Choir and the internationally renowned NKZN Youth Choir with which he received a first place at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. He has also conducted orchestras such as the Baroque 2000 orchestra, the Cape Town Symphony strings as well as the KZN Philharmonic orchestra. William has attended master classes from world renowned conductors and singers both nationally and internationally and has been an adjudicator for music and choral competitions at regional and national level. He has composed and arranged several works for choirs that have been performed by Youth Choirs and High School Choirs around the country. William is currently the Senior Master of Cultural Education and the Choral Director of the Michaelhouse Chapel and Chamber choirs as well as the Musical Director of the KwaZulu Natal Midlands Youth Choir. He regularly attends workshops of conductors and singers alike and has been asked on several occasions to conduct workshops both nationally and internationally on choral conducting and choral vocal productions, as well as on African music. William’s goal is to educate the youth of South Africa and the world through choral music. He believes that music is a language in which everyone can speak in this world, and is one of the basic tools which can be used to bring all nations together.