Jeffrey Williams BA (Hons), FRSA, LTCL, FTCL, PGCE was born and grew up in Cornwall. After leaving grammar school he went on to read music at Bath and to study organ and choir training with Dudley Holroyd at Bath Abbey and choral conducting with John (W J) Richards. From university he moved to Hampshire to take up his first teaching position and has taught at schools both in the state and independent sectors. Jeffrey is on the panel of Music Examiners for Trinity College, London and has examined in New Zealand, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong, as well as extensively in the UK. He is active in his work with the Royal School of Church Music, both as an Examiner for the School’s Chorister Awards scheme and in directing choral workshops.
During a long association with the music at Romsey Abbey, Jeffrey established the choir as one of the most successful all-male church choirs in the South of England. Under his direction, the Abbey Choir sang at most of the major Cathedrals in the country, including three visits to Westminster Abbey and two concert tours to Holland, as well as performing on local television and BBC Radio Three. For a number of years Jeffrey was conductor of the Romsey Choral Society, directing many large-scale works and working with professional soloists and instrumentalists. Throughout his career, he has worked with many different choral groups, ranging from school choirs to male voice choirs and small vocal ensembles. In December 2003 Jeffrey was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts for his work in music.
Jeffrey is currently Team Organist at Southampton City Centre Parish and Musical Director of the Romsey Counterpoint Singers, a small male-voice group that specialises in a cappella repertoire from a wide range of musical styles. As an organ recitalist he has given numerous recitals at Romsey and has played at many of the English cathedrals and major parish churches, as well as performances in France, Holland and the USA. Extracts from his CD recording of the restored Walker Organ at Romsey have been featured on the BBC Radio 2 programme The Organist Entertains.
He is in increasing demand as an adjudicator and recent engagements have included the 60th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival in 2008 and the Sri Lanka National Music Festival in 2009. In 2010 Jeffrey will be adjudicating at the Leith Hill Music Festival, the Tilehurst Eisteddfod and the Bangor International Choral Festival.