William Hayward is a free-lance composer, conductor, arranger and concert organist specialising in musical direction for such artists are Russell Watson, Katherine Jenkins and Hayley Westenra.

Russell Watson’s international work takes William all over the world - in addition to such venues as the Kodak Theatre, Hollywood (new home of the Oscars which Russell and William opened in 2001), Carnegie Hall (New York) and Sydney Opera House there have been frequent visits to Japan, New Zealand and the Philippines and the USA (many appearances including the legendary Carnegie Hall) in addition to many concerts and TV appearances here in the UK.

William conducted the Czech Film Orchestra for Katherine Jenkins’s second album Second Nature in 2004 and writes all her touring arrangements in addition to those for Russell Watson.  He is also a featured as conductor on the Russell Watson albums The Voice, Encore and Reprise.

During 2007-2008 William arranged and conducted albums for Geoff Sewell, Amici For Ever and John Innes.

A recent commission from St Dunstans Parish, Woking, for a cantata produced Ecclesia Aeterna, a work for tenor and baritone soloists, chorus and organ which had its premier in St Dunstan’s on March 15th 2008; another new cantata, Mary (a commission from Watson & Oatlands Choral Society) will receive its first performance at Christmas 2008

Katherine Jenkins singing at Newmarket.

Photo © Nigel Bevan

Russell Watson singing at Kodak Theatre, Hollywood Nov 2001

Photo © Reuters

Hayley Westenra

Photo used with kind permission of  Hayley Westenra International via the GNU Free Document license. Photo © Steven Hayter 2006 Wikimedia.