Biography

Sarah-Grace Williams has been continually celebrated by the press:

“Sarah-Grace slices the air with her baton, sparking the inexorable bond with her players. Like a marionettist with a voodoo knack, she casts a spell on the string section, directing their arms in elegant synchronicity. Her animation and engagement inspire not only the orchestra, but also the audience, transfixing them onto the art form from the Opus intro to the encore” (Sheldon Ang) …
“In the hands of Williams this work became a tour de force of exceptional poise, eloquence and atmosphere” (Sydney Arts Guide) …

“Williams succeeds in creating very pioneering and open soundscapes, creating an attractive new interpretative world” (Arts Hub) …

”Outstanding conductor, Williams, is able to draw out the musicality in of each player and weld them into a wonderful orchestra with a great sound” (Paul Nolan) …

“Despite the multiple vocalists potentially stealing the limelight from the pole position of the stage, Williams’ styles grasped the audience’s attention towards the orchestra for most of the night. Her semi-dance quirks and signature facial expressions while conducting were charismatic and fun, perpetually beaming a dose of technical grace and gentility that is ever so welcoming from a classical musician. In short, Williams took the clubbers onto her orchestral journey.” (S A Media)

A Churchill Fellow, Sarah-Grace Williams is the Founding Artistic Director & Chief Conductor of The Metropolitan Orchestra (TMO), Principal Conductor for the Australian and New Zealand ‘Synthony’ Tour and Principal Conductor for the Australian Tour of Stardew Valley: A Festival of Seasons.

Boasting an impressive conducting career, Sarah-Grace has also conducted the Queensland, Adelaide, West Australian, Tasmanian and Perth Symphony Orchestras, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Brisbane Camerata, Bangalow Festival Orchestra, Queensland Music Festival Orchestra, Southern Cross Orchestra, and the Synthony Orchestra amongst others. Additionally, she is the Artistic Director of the Aspire International Youth Music Festival and has held positions as Musical Director of the Sydney Opera House Babies Proms, Stager Conductor at the Ukraine National Opera and Ballet Theatre and Conducting Fellow of the Australian Ballet. Recently, Sarah-Grace was the Music Director and Conductor for Sydney Opera House’s production of Amadeus, starring Michael Sheen.

Since founding TMO in 2009, Sarah-Grace has received much acclaim and admiration for her accomplishments with the orchestra and has conducted them in more than 550 concerts, album recordings and national and international tours. Under Sarah-Grace’s direction, TMO has become recognised as one of Australia’s most versatile orchestras, with their annual seasons including a variety of events tailored to different demographics, from their highly acclaimed Met Concert, Cushion Concert and Chamber Concert series, development programs for composers, conductors and performers, outreach concerts for newly arrived refugees and free community events. Sarah-Grace has led the establishment of TMO’s Young Artist, Conductor and Composer Development Programs, and has championed the commissioning of numerous world premieres by TMO over the past decade.

Sarah-Grace enjoys a diverse conducting portfolio, performing in a variety of genres including mainstage symphonic concerts, concerts with film, ballet, opera, cross-over performances with hip-hop, rock and pop artists, multi-media installations, stadium events, album recordings and more. Sarah-Grace has conducted the Australian and New Zealand concert tours of Basement Jaxx and Air Supply, plus several Live Film Concerts including Jurassic Park, Love Actually and the Muppets Xmas Carol. She has also collaborated with a formidable list of renowned artists such as José Carreras, Sir Bryn Terfel, Kate Ceberano, John Butler, David Helfgott, Jack Liebeck, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Sir Dave Dobbin, Lisa Gasteen, Anthony Warlow, James Morrison, Katie Noonan, Deborah Conway, John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John.

Sarah-Grace has received constant recognition for her significant achievements including being awarded the 2017 Western Sydney University Alumni Chancellors Leadership Award (the highest honour the awards bestow), being announced on the 2013 International Women’s Day Honour Roll for her outstanding achievements and contribution to the community, while also being hailed by Limelight Magazine to be amongst ‘10 of the Best Women Conductors – trailblazing talent leading the way for women conductors all over the world’.

Listed in the Who’s Who of Australian Women since 2011, Sarah-Grace received her Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours in 1998, before continuing conducting studies in Russia. She feels privileged to have had Alexander Polishchuk (Russia) and Johannes Fritzsch (Australia) as her primary conducting mentors.

Her proudest achievement to date is the birth of her daughter Scarlett Grace in 2014, with her husband and TMO Managing Director, Bevan Rigato.