Dr. John Elson Williams

Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Dr. John Elson Williams (email) is the newest addition to St. James Cathedral, serving as the Associate for Administration. A classically trained tenor and accomplished conductor, Dr. Williams brings a unique blend of artistic excellence and administrative versatility to the Cathedral staff.

An acclaimed soloist, John’s credits include Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, and Rachmaninoff’s Vespers. He has appeared with the North Carolina Symphony and Music of the Baroque, and has served as a cantor and soloist for prominent congregations across the country, including the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta and First and Franklin Presbyterian in Baltimore. His expertise is also sought after in the competitive circuit, where he has served as a judge and adjudicator for both the NAACP’s ACT-SO and the Miss America Organization. 

John’s leadership extends to the podium and the classroom, where he has previously served as the Music Director of Musical Theatre and Opera Theatre at Columbia College Chicago and the University of West Georgia. Under his direction, students consistently earned top honors at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) and with the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). Current students can be seen on national tours and Broadway. His own music directing credits span from Die Fledermaus to Hair, and in 2025, he was awarded the American Prize in Conducting for his work on Bernstein’s On the Town.

John holds a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa, a Master of Music from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Music from East Carolina University. His research focuses on vocal habilitation, gender neutrality in vocal pedagogy, and vocal load and dose for professional singers. He is a proud member of NATS, Musician United for Social Equity, and Phi Mu Alpha, Sinfonia.