Barry Scott Williamson, Founder and Artistic/Executive Director of the Texas Bach Festival, has a lengthy and revered international history of conducting innovation and accomplishment.  Known for his dynamic performances of 18th century repertoire, his stylistic knowledge and passionate affinity with the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and his contemporaries has been of particular significance.  His administrative and artistic accomplishments with the Austin Civic Chorus (1987-1991) elevated ACC into one of Austin's leading choral organizations. Thriving under the tutelage of renowned Bach scholar/conductor Helmuth Rilling summers 1988-1990 in the Oregon Bach Festival active conducting master class, Dr. Williamson made his European conducting debut at the 1991 European Music Festival in Stuttgart with the Gächinger Kantorei and Bach Collegium Stuttgart. Upon receiving his DMA from UT-Austin, Williamson served as Director of Choral Activities at Trinity University and UT-El Paso, the latter where he conducted El Paso's first-ever complete performance of Handel's Messiah. As Founding Artistic/Executive Director of the Texas Choral Consort 

(1997-2007, now Panoramic Voices), Dr. Williamson envisioned, organized and led numerous preeminent choral/orchestral events, including biannual choral symposia masterwork performances of Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Duruflé and Dvorak and three international tours of Ireland (April 2002), Germany, Austria and Italy (2004) and England and Wales (2006), the latter highlighted by a performance of Mozart's Requiem with the Llandaff Cathedral Choral Society and Welsh Sinfonia.  Dr. Williamson has also held conducting positions with the Austin Lyric (now Austin) Opera, UT-Austin University Chorus, El Paso Pro-Musica and El Paso Symphony Chorus, Vocali of Austin and MidAmerica Productions in New York City, where he was John Rutter's chorus preparer of choice for his many Carnegie Hall performances.  He made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in June 2018 leading the Fauré Requiem with the Manhattan Concert Productions Masterwork Chorus and Manhattan Chamber Orchestra.  Since its 2017 inaugural year, Dr. Williamson has crafted TBF’s annual festivals to offer a critically acclaimed trademark variety of free outreach events and chamber music, choral, orchestral, organ and solo/recital concerts, featuring Central Texas’ leading professional artists, providing Georgetown/Austin-area music lovers of all ages with a transformative performance and educational experience.  Dr. Williamson is a regular faculty instructor with Senior University in Georgetown, and will make his Carnegie Hall conducting return in June, 2024.

For current updates and more information, contact Dr. Williamson at barry@texasbachfestival.org.

Barry Scott Williamson, Founder and Artistic/Executive Director