William Adams, DMA
My passion...
I am a singer
I've been singing as long as I can remember. The first time I was officially on stage as a singer was at age 5. Since then, I've been in dozens of choirs, chamber ensembles, from just four voices to 250. There is something really amazing about choral music that nearly defies description. There's an amazing rush you get creating these insanely gorgeous harmonies (especially a cappella) and combining your voice with others.
But don't get me wrong, I love to be a soloist. Whether it's a recital, soloing with an orchestra, or playing a role in an opera or musical theater production, I love to explore what my voice can do. It's led me to singing roles written for tenors, baritones, and basses in more than a dozen languages and nearly every conceivable style from opera to country.
Representative Roles
Oratorio and Solo Concert
Johann Sebastian Bach -- Johannes-Passion (Jesus)
Johann Sebastian Bach -- Mass in B Minor
*Joseph Blaha -- Letters (world premiere)
Johannes Brahms -- Ein deutsches Requiem
Dave Brubeck -- La Fiesta de la Posada
Maurice Duruflé -- Requiem
Gabriel Fauré -- Requiem
*Donald Grantham -- The Diaries of Adam and Eve
George Frederic Handel -- Messiah
Arthur Honegger, Une cantate de Noël
Franz Joseph Haydn -- The Creation
Gustav Mahler -- Fünf Rückert Lieder
Donald McCullough -- Holocaust Cantata
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart -- Requiem
Joseph Rheinberger, The Star of Bethlehem
*Daniel Pinkham -- Small Requiem (west coast premiere)
*John Rutter -- Mass of the Children
Franz Schubert -- Magnificat
Ralph Vaughan Williams -- Five Mystical Songs
Ralph Vaughan Williams -- Fantasia on Christmas Carols
*Denotes a performance given under the direction, or with the collaboration, of the composer.
Stage (Opera and Musical Theater)
Cosí Fan Tutte -- Guglielmo, Don Alfonso
Susannah -- Olin Blitch
Die Fledermaus -- Gabriel von Eisenstein
The Fantasticks -- El Gallo
La Cambiale di Matrimonio -- Tobias Mill
L'incoronazione di Poppea -- Ottone, Seneca
Into the Woods -- Cinderella's Prince
A Midsummer Night's Dream -- Theseus
Zaïde -- Osmin
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum -- Miles Gloriosus
Once Upon a Mattress -- Prince Dauntless, Wizard
Oklahoma! -- Curley
My solo experience spans more than seventy roles in nineteen languages ranging from the Baroque to Contemporary
University of Texas Symphony Orchestra
Dr. Tim Muffit, conducting
Sara Andon, alto flute
Terry Lusk, piano
Duke Chapel Choir and Orchestra,
Dr. Rodney Wynkoop, conducting
Dr. Elden Little, piano
Dr. Larry McFatter, piano
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Chorus,
Dr. Sue Klausmeyer, conductor
Studio Recording
Voice & Piano
David Heid, piano
Voice & Piano
Voice & Guitar
When Bill Adams sings on your stage, your audience gets an amazing experience! His attention to the text allows a voice that can shake the rafters in one phrase, to suddenly float an angelic pianissimo in the next breath and leaves the audience spellbound. Every concert I have hired him has been met with requests to bring him back again. He inspires those he works with to raise their own standards, and his collegial attitude is a joy to work with.
Dr. Joseph Crabtree
President, Laredo Philharmonic
Professor of Voice, Laredo College
Carl J. Halperin, The Herald Sun
William Adams' high-lying baritone, in "The Train" made the haunting refrain ("Goodbye to eyes that once caressed me, farewell to love that owned my heart. Farewell my love! Remember me!") one not to be easily forgotten.
Timothy Mangan, L.A. Times
Baritone William Adams offered a rich and pliant account of the "Pie Jesu" in the Requiem.
William T. Walker, CVNC
I cannot imagine the first four songs being better sung than they were by William Adams, whose performance was wonderfully inflected and featured extraordinary dynamic nuances. It reminded me of the work of baritone John Shirley-Quirk.
Paul D. Williams, CVNC
Baritone William Adams took splendid solo turns in the 'Gloria.' [His] powerful low register carried the 'Domine Fili unigenite' in fine style."
Timothy Lindeman,
CVNC
William Adams sang the role of Jesus with subdued intensity.