Biography
William composes and produces music for film, television and the concert hall. With a personal style strongly influenced by Western Classical and World Music traditions, he draws on many years’ experience as a professional musician. A recent commission Lobo – the Wolf that Changed America (2008), a Natural World production for BBC and Thirteen/WNET (New York) narrated by Sir David Attenborough, was awarded the Jury's Special Prize at Wildscreen 2008 and the Outstanding Achievement Award at Jackson Hole 2009.
William’s composing portfolio includes original music for natural history and history documentary, radio drama and a variety of commercial and concert work. Recent broadcast commissions include Wild Russia (2009) - a six-part natural history series for National Geographic, Snow Monkeys (2009) - a Natural World production for BBC, Lobo – the Wolf that Changed America (2008) - a Natural World production for BBC and Thirteen/WNET (New York) narrated by Sir David Attenborough; Humpbacks – from Fire to Ice (2008) for ABC (Australia) and National Geographic narrated by Sir David Attenborough; Athens – the Truth about Democracy (2007) – a two-part History Feature for Channel 4 produced by Lion TV and presented by Bettany Hughes; Bearman (2008) - a Natural History Feature for Channel 5 and National Geographic produced by Aqua Vita Films; and, Peter Scott – a Passion for Nature (2006) produced by Available Light Productions for BBC2 with Sir David Attenborough. William has just completed Wild Japan and is currently scoring Indian Tigers, both for National Geographic International.
William works regularly with a number of international and national orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra and the London Metropolitan Orchestra. He has recorded at all the major London studios including Abbey Road, Air Lyndhurst, Angel, CTS and Mark Angelo as well as performing live. As conductor and orchestrator he has undertaken numerous projects for the BBC including several major natural history series such as Great Rift (2009-10), Nature's Great Events (2009), Wild China (2008) - composed by Barnaby Taylor was winner of an Emmy (2009) for Sound and Music, Ganges (2007), Europe – a Natural History (2005), Journey of Life (2004) and Wild New World (2002) and has recorded for Sony Classical, Universal Classical and Jazz, and CBS Records. He has collaborated with international soloists as diverse as guitarist John Williams (with whom he has recorded a number of albums), Andy Sheppard, members of the Maggini Quartet, Natalia Lomeiko, Alasdair Malloy, O-Duo and Tom Jones. In Bristol, William is guest conductor with the Bristol Ensemble - Bristol’s professional chamber orchestra, and the BMCO, performing regularly at the Colston Hall and St George’s Bristol. William is currently working with Roni Size and Reprazent as composer, orchestrator and conductor on Future:Retro Live with 24-piece orchestra and gospel choir for a UK tour in 2010. He is also orchestrator and conductor of Nature’s Great Events Live with Sir David Attenborough and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
William works from his project recording studio in Clifton, Bristol. He uses Apple with Logic Pro audio sequencing and Sibelius notation softwares. He delivers projects in 5.1 surround or stereo.
William has a degree in Music from UEA and is a licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama having been a Junior Exhibitioner in violin and piano at the Royal College of Music and a Music Scholar at St. Paul’s School. He studied conducting with Richard Hickox, John Lubbock and George Hurst, and piano with Sidney Harrison and John York. His passion for film composition began when working as a musical assistant to British composer Edward Williams.