From London to London; St. Paul’s Cathedral’s newest musical director has big goals

The new musical director at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, Ont. is a renowned singer from London, England. CTV's Brent Lale reports.

Still settling into living in a new country, Laurence Williams still loves to get to the British store to get biscuits, chocolate hobnobs.

The new musical director at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, Ont. is a renowned singer from London, England.

“I did 13 years in London, England, as a freelancing singer, organist, director and educator,” said Williams. “I was actually looking for something a little calmer and this London is definitely calmer.”

On the job for a few months now, Rector and Dean Kevin George said Williams will be a “great addition to the music scene here in London.”

Williams was a musician overseas who worked in a church as a director of music, sang with professional choirs, and toured the world. He was a chorister at Westminster Abbey, which is his claim to fame.

“I had the privilege of singing for a number of royal services, and including the funeral for the Queen mother, in 2001,” said Williams. “It was very odd going back and watching when the Queen’s funeral happened a couple of years ago. Watching that and seeing a lot of the parallels and same things going on made me realize what an amazing privilege it was to get to sing there.”

During his youth, he would sing every day for about three hours.

“It was a bit of a head start in life, let’s say, and there’s no upbringing quite like that. You are on the job all the time. You’re at a boarding school just for the choristers. You live with your friends, you breathe and sing with them as well,” explained Williams.

At St. Paul’s, he was playing the organ Sunday morning for singer Karianne Pasma. His role will also include directing the adult choir, working with students from Western University and hopefully working with children.

“I hope what I can bring here is a passion to introduce people to music,” said Williams. “Whether that’s through the concerts we want to set up here or whether that’s through some of the educational schemes I really want to build and make excellent within what is now, I believe, one of the most beautiful spaces in London.”

Pasma, a musician, has worked with a wide range of people, but when it comes to church music, believes Williams is “probably one of the best I’ve ever worked with.”

She believes the two have an ability to blend their vowels together to be in harmony.

“The biggest thing is he has such energy about him,” said Pasma. “He’s just so enthusiastic about music, about church music, about choral singing, about singing together, joining voices together, about perfection and reaching new heights of ability. It’s that breath of fresh air with new ideas.”

Williams has a long list of goals now that he’s settled in and making his mark in the Forest City.

“I want to bring some amazing concert experiences and bring new audiences to that. There’s an amazing TED talk online about how classical music is for everyone, but no one knows it yet,” said Williams. “I want to create the most amazing adult choir. I want to create a Chorister experience program here, which will be on a Wednesday after school, and that’s an opportunity for children to come and experience a snipped of the same tradition I experienced. Lastly, I want to start a non-audition community choir here that will be open for anyone to come and sing in this beautiful space.”

Pasma said Williams’ dreams and goals will be a change for everyone.

“I think we’re going to reach new heights that we haven’t before and make incredible music, which I’m really excited about,” she said.