Mark Williams is one of the UK’s most versatile and exciting young musicians. Appointed Assistant Sub-Organist of St Paul’s Cathedral in London and Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral School at the age of 21 in 2000, he relinquished both posts in April of 2006 in order to pursue his rapidly growing freelance career.  Educated in his home town of Bolton and at Trinity College Cambridge where he held both the Organ Scholarship and an academic scholarship, Mark has been described as ‘the shooting star of the international organ scene’ by the Berliner Zeitung and a ‘boy wonder’ by the Oregonian newspaper. He has appeared in the UK, Europe and America with ensembles such as The Sixteen, The King’s Consort, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of London Sinfonia and the Cardinall’s Musick.  He has worked as opera repetiteur, harpsichordist and pianist, and has led masterclasses in choral training, singing and organ performance in the UK, the USA and Africa.   Mark has recorded works of Elgar, Mendelssohn, Sweelinck and Duruflé with the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge under the direction of Dr Richard Marlow, Handel with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Rutter with the Cambridge Singers, Rossini with The King's Consort and Padilla with The Sixteen.  Appointed Principal Conductor of English Chamber Opera at the beginning of 2007, his debut met with acclaim following performances of ‘Don Giovanni’ in Ireland and London and he has since conducted ‘Le Nozze di G.  Mark has also appeared on film soundtracks, and is the Musical Director of the award-winning classical crossover group ‘Blake’. He has been coming to the William Byrd Festival in Portland, Oregon since the year 2000.