Biography
Benjamin Williams is a composer in central Mississippi and an Associate Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Mississippi College. Raised in Northeast Ohio, Williams earned degrees in Music Composition from The University of Akron (B.M and M.M.) and The Ohio State University (D.M.A.). Williams also performs locally with the jazz ensemble Brick Street Trio and New JXN, a group dedicated to modern classical music performed with local musicians.
Williams has been performed by The Cleveland Chamber Symphony, The University of Akron Chamber Choir and the Ohio State University Symphonic Band. His music has been performed at the NACUSA National Conference, UCM New Music Festival, The Society of Composers, Inc. National Conference, Electronic Music Midwest Festival, Denison New Music Festival, Kentucky New Music Festival and the University of Nebraska New Music Festival. Williams was the 2008–9 Composer-in-Residence with the Ohio State University Symphony and the 2013–15 Composer-in-Residence for the Premiere Orchestral Institute in Jackson, Mississippi.
He has won the Johnstone Woodwind Master Series III Competition and the APSU Annual Young Composers Competition. Williams has also been finalist in the Ithaca College Choral Composition Contest and a National Federation of Music Clubs recipient of the ASCAP/Victor Herbert Award. Commissions include Voices of Canton, Inc., the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra, the University of Akron Men's Chorus and the Mississippi College Singers.
Benjamin Williams served as editor of the SCI Newsletter and has been an editor for the The Ohio State Online Music Journal. He has also served as the chair of Composition and Theory for the Mississippi Music Teachers Association and a conference manager for an SCI Student National Conference.
"… a fresh, yet mature compositional style."
The Clarinet Journal