Trumbull's Grace Church is singing a new song with Minister of Music of Dave McWilliams.
The Seymour resident joined the church recently after serving for almost six years as choir director and organist at the Plainville United Methodist Church in Plainville, said the Rev. Elsa Worth, priest in charge.
"We’re very excited about the new energy he’s brought to Grace Church," Worth said.
McWilliams graduated magna cum laude from The Hartt School of Music in 2009. While at Hartt, he studied the piano with Dr. Paul Rutman and classical voice with Mr. Kenneth Shelley.
Currently, he studies organ with Jason Roberts and also keeps busy pursuing a master’s degree in music education with a concentration in vocal pedagogy at the Hartt School. In addition to maintaining an active private piano and voice studio, he will soon begin in his new position as Head of Music at the British International School in New York City, Worth said.
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McWilliams has served as an accompanist for many school districts in the Greater Hartford and New Haven areas and has toured with a number of distinguished choirs both nationally and abroad, she added.
Since the spring of 2008, he has served as accompanist and co-director of the Connecticut Childrens’ Chorus performing at various music conferences such as the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME, formerly MENC), and the Connecticut Music Educators Association, at the state and national level, according to Worth.
In addition to his other duties, McWilliams welcomes new piano students in Trumbull on Sunday afternoons.
He also hopes to develop a monthly coffee house with an open mic at Grace Church for the teens of Trumbull and surrounding communities. The coffeehouse would provide a welcoming and accepting space for teens to be themselves, to enjoy music and the arts, and to grow in community. Local teen instrumentalists and singers are encouraged to contact Dave to get onto the performance schedule, Worth said.
McWilliams has two cats, Bella and Abbey, and loves visiting family, running, reading and throwing his own pottery. He recently celebrated his 25th birthday with a skydiving expedition, Worth said.
To reach McWilliams or get more info, visit the Grace Church website.
