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Meet the RCM’s new Director, James Williams
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Find out more about the new Director of the Royal College of Music, James Williams, in our exclusive Q&A.
What’s your earliest musical memory?
I was around seven years old, hearing my local orchestra, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. My school allowed a small group of us to attend a rehearsal of Janáček’s Sinfonietta, and as a young brass player, I was completely mesmerised by the army of trumpet players and the sheer impact of the blazing sound the orchestra made performing this extraordinary piece.
What’s the first recording you bought?
I think it was a tape of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. I’d been told by my music teacher of an orchestral work that included cannons and I was curious to hear it for myself. Goodness, it didn’t disappoint!
When did you realise music would be a central part of your life?
I was very fortunate to have music in my life from an early age, and most evenings and weekends, my twin brother and I would be ferried around by our long-suffering mother to participate in music rehearsals and concerts with local brass bands and orchestras. My childhood revolved around music and it seemed a natural progression that it would always play a central part in my life.
If you had to choose your top three pieces of music, what would they be?
I have a wide-ranging musical palate and listen to a variety of music according to my mood. If I had to take three pieces with me to a desert island, I’d probably take substantial works including Wagner’s opera Tristan und Isolde, Vaughan Williams’ elegiac Symphony no 5 and the ‘Ella & Louis Songbook’, the fantastic collaborative album featuring the sensational voices of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
[quote quote="I was very fortunate to have music in my life from an early age. It seemed a natural progression that it would always play a central part in my life." author="James Williams"]
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
It’s not how often you get knocked down that matters, it’s how many times you get back up that counts.
In three words, how would you describe your early impressions of the Royal College of Music?
Joyful, invigorating, community.
Which RCM concert stood out for you this term?
It would have to be the Wildlife Photographer of the Year performance, combining the National History Museum’s spectacular annual photographic exhibition with new works created by RCM student composers. I’m intrigued by the new opportunities that arise from combining different artforms and the interplay between visual art and music.
Do you have a favourite part of the RCM campus?
It’s always inspiring to walk into the RCM’s Blomfield Building and marvel at the skilful blend of old and new architectural styles. The RCM Museum with its outstanding collections is my go-to place when I need a distraction from the day job; I always leave feeling enriched and having learned something new!
What’s the best thing to order from the RCM Café?
It has to be a caffeine fix in the form of a cappuccino, and if I’m feeling indulgent or needing to boost sugar levels ahead of a demanding meeting, I’ll add one of their delicious pastries.
Beyond the College, what are your South Kensington highlights?
Albertopolis, the nickname for the estate in which the RCM sits, is a truly inspiring constellation of institutions that defines both innovation and heritage, mirroring the spirit of the 1851 Great Exhibition which took place across the road in Hyde Park. There’s an embarrassment of riches to experience in this area, from the myriad exhibitions at the Victoria & Albert Museum, breathtaking performances at the Royal Albert Hall and, for the brave, an icy dip in Hyde Park’s Serpentine!
