Visiting Williams

Many prospective students visit the Williams College campus and Music Department every year. We encourage you to plan your own visit. We will do our best to provide opportunities for you to meet with the department chair and other academic or performance faculty. During the academic year it may even be possible to schedule a mini lesson with one of the Artist Associates depending upon the day and time of your visit. This is not a requirement, nor is it a formal audition, but it can be helpful. There is no question that a well planned weekday visit is the most effective way to find out if Williams is the right place for you both academically and musically. To get the full benefit from your visit we recommend that you schedule it during one of the regular semesters if at all possible. Doing so will afford you the opportunity to attend classes, possibly view rehearsals and/or performances as well as to meet students and faculty. While the availability of faculty for a face-to-face meeting in the summer months or during breaks cannot be guaranteed they may be available to respond to email inquiries. Visits during breaks or the summer months will generally be strictly informational.

Email inquiries are preferable with a subject line “Prospective Student – your name”.

For meetings with faculty see below:

Academic Faculty

     Choral/Vocal Activities – Bradley Wells
     Composition – David Kechley
     Composition, Theory, Music Technology – Ileana Perez Velazquez

     Ethnomusicology - Oyebade Dosunmu

     Instrument/ String Activities – Ronald Feldman

     Jazz Activities – Andrew Jaffe
     Music Theory and Analysis – Edward Gollin
     Musicology (specializing in early music) – M. Jennifer Bloxam
     Musicology (specializing in 18th and 19th century music) – Marjorie Hirsch
     Musicology (specializing in 20th century music) – W. Anthony Sheppard

Ensemble Directors

     Berkshire Symphony – Ronald Feldman

     Brass Ensemble – Nathan Botts

     Clarinet Choir – Susan Martula

     Concert/Chamber Choirs - Bradley Wells

     Jazz Ensemble – Andrew Jaffe

     Zambezi Marimba Band - Tendai Muparutsa

     Marching Band – Christopher Caproni

     Percussion Ensemble – Matthew Gold

     Wind Ensemble - Heidi Miller

     Woodwind Chamber Music – Stephen Walt

Performance Faculty  

     Bass, Classical – Robert Zimmerman

     Bass, Jazz - Avery Sharpe

     Bassoon – Stephen Walt

     Cello – Nathaniel Parke

     Clarinet – Susan Martula

     Drums, Jazz – Conor Meehan

     Euphonium - Michael Stephan

     Flute – Floyd Hebert

     Guitar – Robert Phelps

     Guitar, Jazz – Robert Phelps

     Harp – Elizabeth Morse

     Harpsichord – Edwin Lawrence

     Horn – Victor Sungarian

     Oboe – Carl Jenkins

     Organ – Edwin Lawrence

     Percussion – Matthew Gold

     Piano – Edwin Lawrence, Doris Stevenson, Elizabeth Wright

     Piano, Jazz – John Nazarenko

     Saxophone, Classical

     Saxophone, Jazz - Michael Kolodny

     Trombone - John Wheeler

     Trumpet – Nathan Botts

     Trumpet, Jazz – Nathan Botts

     Tuba - Michael Stephan

     Viola – Ah ling Neu

     Violin – Joana Genova, Joanna Kurkowicz

     Voice – Keith Kibler, Erin Nafziger, Kerry Ryer-Parke, Marlene Walt

If you would like to meet with the Department Chair:

          Contact Marilyn Cole Dostie, Assistant to the Chair,

by email Marilyn.Cole.Dostie@williams.edu or phone at 413-597-2163

If you are having difficulty making direct contact with an instructor during the academic year please contact Michelle Picard for assistance. If you are on campus already or your visit is imminent we will do our best to make some time for you, but you can also stop by Bernhard Music Center almost any weekday and speak to Michelle in the Music Office. She can give you some information and possibly show you around the building. However, the further ahead you can plan the more productive your visit will be. Click here for Google Map Directions

We look forward to seeing you!