Derek Williams

About Me

I reside in Scotland, where I graduated PhD in music at The University of Edinburgh, and where I have taught Composition and Orchestration since 2007.  In my private studio, I teach Piano, Musicianship and Theory of Music including preparation for those interested in entering ABRSM and Trinity College grade and diploma examinations.  I also teach Composition, Orchestration and Arranging using Sibelius and Cubase to all levels including university graduates and undergraduates.  I offer lessons locally in Edinburgh or online via Skype Music Tuition.  Fees published on this site apply identically for private or online tuition, offering discount packages for block bookings. I welcome adult students over 16 or who have reached Grade 5 and higher on any instrument, including Voice. Alongside my career as an educator, I have been self-employed variously as composer, conductor, musical director and record producer for a range of international clients, including Edinburgh University, EUSOG, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, EMI Music, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Caroline O’Connor, Sir Robert Helpmann, Sir Howard Morrison. My work has featured in performances at the Royal Albert Hall, Garrick Theatre (London), Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Hamer Hall (Australia), Capetown University South Africa, the Hawaiian Theatre Honolulu, the Australian Embassy (New York), Sala Accademica di Santa Cecilia (Rome) and Edinburgh University. I am Chair of the Wagner Society of Scotland. I have been orchestrator, associate composer and conductor for 27 feature films, television documentaries, mini series, and fifteen album titles and have been a frequent conductor of studio orchestras, including Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for the feature film Frauds. Many of the media to which I have contributed have achieved critical and popular acclaim, including including BAFTA Award (The Making of Longbird), Best Film Score (Crush), an Oscar (Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert), Triple Platinum record sales (Come In Spinner – ABC) and an Australian Aria Award nomination (Cash Landing – EMI Music). Stars in films I have orchestrated include Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Phil Collins, Josephine Byrnes, Lee Majors, Jack Scalia, Bob Peck, Guy Pearce, Terence Stamp. I worked with Torvill & Dean as arranger and pianist for their album Here We Stand. I have performed extensively as keyboardist, including over 400 performances of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s show Cats (Really Useful Theatre Company) and Phantom of the Opera (Cameron Mackintosh Limited), and as musical director for independent productions. Recent commissions have included composing the score for Ruaridh M Tuner’s film The Beast In The Storm, which won Best Thriller at the Los Angeles Independent Film Awards, and to arrange, conduct, mix and master the vocal and orchestral music for the Glenfiddich 21yo Whisky ad campaign exceeding 1.7 million hits, viewable on my YouTube channel.  My current commissions included the composition of a new 4 movement symphony for The Orchestra of the Canongait I have the digital technology necessary to work in-house in my private studio at: http://derekwilliams.net/services/conducting_producing_recording/ as well as with live ensembles of any size as Arranger, Conductor or Producer. Testimonials in all these fields are available on request. You may also download my CV and Intro Letter.