This music director moved from London, U.K., to London, Ont. to conduct young choristers

One of musician Laurence Williams' most significant memories as a young chorister is something that only a few others share.

The memory is not of his first choir performance, nor is it of the first time he scored a solo, but it's a memory of performing at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's funeral.

"I certainly remember the sense of rehearsals being extended, the press coming in and taking photos. It had a real sort of heightened level and state about it," recalled Williams, who is the new music director at St. Paul's Cathedral in downtown London, Ont.

Across the pond from his home in London, England, Williams said his goal at St. Paul's is to bring a love of music and choir to young people in the city, regardless of their experience or religious affiliation.

"Every child I've met can sing. Every child I've met wants to make a contribution to sound and be creative in that way. Choir is one of the most uplifting ways you can do that," he said. "You sing with your friends, you make that sound together, and when you get to do that in an inspiring space … there's nothing quite like it."

Securing Williams at St. Paul's was a combination of good timing and great conversations, said Dean Kevin George.

When St. Paul's previous music director announced his retirement, George had been Dean for less than a year and didn't know where to start looking for somebody new, he said. His first approach was to look through old music director job applications, which is where he found Williams' application from 2019.

"Once I saw his name and I looked him up online, I saw the level of music he was producing and the work he was doing at the time touring Europe, singing with choirs, and directing choirs in London, [England]. I thought I'd find him on socials and reach out to him," George said.

"As it happened, he was vacationing in Kingston, Ont., and so the next day myself and my colleague Sam Thomas dropped our schedules and drove to Kingston for lunch," he said.

After a five hour drive, the pair met Williams for a slice of pizza, where they discussed the music director role and their ideas for the future of the cathedral. After taking some time to think about it, Laurence officially said yes to the role in September 2024 and started working at the St. Paul's in April.

From the ages of eight to 13, Williams was part of the world-renowned Choir of Westminster Abbey in London, England, where he spent three hours a day singing after school. In addition to the Queen Mother's funeral, he also sang at Princess Margaret's funeral and during regular services at the royal church.

"When you're eight, you don't really think about it … It was in my 20s that I started to realize what a unique experience I'd been through," he said.

Williams took his love for music and continued on to music school, becoming a singer, organist and music director. He's run three children's choirs over the years.

"For me, it's about offering that gift at an early age for children to get involved in music and absorb something that is really meaningful," Williams said, adding that he is now starting a free choral music program for children at St. Paul's.

Kids ages five to eight will meet once a week for singing games and activities, whereas kids nine to 15 will take part in Williams' chorister experience program.

Every Wednesday, the older youth singers will spend an hour training their voices, learning music notation and rehearsing songs, before putting on robes and performing at a short service open to parents and the public inside the newly-renovated church.

"Every single time we meet, you will perform. That creates such a sense of momentum and energy," Williams said. "Of course, it's something we will build up … we'll start very simple and make sure that no one feels they're about to come off the rails."

"When you get to use your voice in a space that is expansive as this, it throws something very rewarding back at you. You get to hear how you filled a space with sound and you get to hear your own voice blossoming into a very beautiful area," he said. "It's a little like making a cake and you get to present it and can see the joy it brings for people afterwards."

The program is open to all young Londoners and no audition is required, Williams said, adding that the goal is to give children "a love of music for life."