Players

Peter J Williams - Conductor
Peter was born in north London and first became associated with music by taking piano lessons at the age of eight and organ lessons at the age of eleven. He became a church organist in 1963 and conducted his first choral concert in 1965 at the age of fourteen. He studied conducting at the London College of Music with Christopher Fry and, after graduating, joined the teaching profession.

Peter was responsible for the formation of the Islington Choral Society and was their conductor from 1973 until 1990. He was founder of both the Hillingdon Choral Society and Hillingdon Philharmonic Orchestra and has continued to conduct them ever since. He has appeared as guest conductor of the Hillingdon Musical Society and was chairman of the Music Sub-Committee of the Hillingdon Arts Association for a number of years. At present Peter is Organist and Choirmaster at Ickenham United Reformed Church, Director of Music of the Free Church Choir Union and Examiner for the London College of Music of Music and Media. Peter is also Headmaster of Normanhurst School in Chingford, north east London.

Over the years Peter has worked with many distinguished soloists including the late Sir Peter Pears as well as conducting concerts at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank and with choral societies in France, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Austria and The Netherlands.

Hilary Holloway - Leader
Hilary was born in Cheshire, but after studying the violin at the Royal Academy of Music, remained in the London area. She was a full-time peripatetic teacher for the London Borough of Harrow for 10 years and has more recently taught at North London Collegiate and privately at home. She has now given up her day job to concentrate on her six grandchildren and to have time to do more playing. She also leads the orchestra for PHEOS (Pinner and Hatch End Operatic Society) and is involved in many other orchestras and chamber groups in the area.