Biography

Sarah-Grace Williams has been continually celebrated for her interpretation by the press: “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).

A Churchill Fellow, Sarah-Grace Williams is the Founding Artistic Director & Chief Conductor of The Metropolitan Orchestra (TMO), the Principal Conductor for the Australian tour of ‘Synthony’ and most recently, the Music Director and Conductor for the Sydney Opera House’s revered production of Amadeus starring Michael Sheen.   

Boasting an impressive conducting career, she has also conducted the Queensland, Adelaide, West Australian and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Perth Symphony Orchestra, Bangalow Festival Orchestra, Queensland Music Festival Orchestra, Southern Cross Soloists and the Synthony Orchestra amongst others. Additionally, Sarah-Grace 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.

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 500 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 and regularly sold-out Met Concert, Cushion Concert and Chamber Concerts series to development programs for composers, conductors and performers, outreach concerts for newly arrived refugees and free events for the community. 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 concert 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. Recent conducting highlights include the Australian and New Zealand concert tours of Basement Jaxx and Air Supply and Jurassic Park Live with Film. She has also collaborated with a formidable list of renowned artists such as José Carreras, Elaine Paige, Jack Liebeck, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Lisa Gasteen, Anthony Warlow, James Morrison, Katie Noonan, Kate Ceberano, David Helfgott and John Farnham, amongst others.

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), 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 a 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.