Sarah-Grace Williams, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director

Sarah-Grace Williams has gained a reputation as one of the leading Australian conductors of her generation. Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of Strathfield Symphony Orchestra since 2006, Sarah-Grace also holds the positions of Musical Director and Conductor of the Sydney Opera House Babies Proms, Associate Conductor of The Occasional Performing Sinfonia (TOPS) and Musical Director of the AIM Showcase Vocal Ensemble ‘Proclaim’. Additionally, Sarah-Grace regularly appears as a Guest Conductor and Presenter with many other ensembles including the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, The Queensland Orchestra (TQO), Penrith Symphony Orchestra and Australian Institute of Music ChAIMber Orchestra.

An accomplished clarinettist and pianist, Sarah-Grace received her Music Degree with Distinction, majoring in performance and composition. She went on to achieve First Class Honours in Conducting before continuing conducting studies with Alexander Polishchuk (Russia) and Jorma Panula (Holland). A principal graduate from Symphony Australia's prestigious Conductor Development Program, Sarah-Grace has also studied with esteemed conductors Johannes Fritzsch, Janos Furst, Christopher Seaman, Daniel Porcelijn and Marco Zucarrini. She has conducted most of Australia’s major orchestras including the Melbourne Symphony, Tasmania Symphony, Adelaide Symphony and The Queensland Orchestras and was selected as one of only five conductors to participate in the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s Graduate Conductors Program in 2005, resulting in an invitation to conduct a concert series the following year.

Sarah-Grace has been awarded numerous prizes including the Symphony Australia Podium Scholarship, University of Western Sydney Prize for Academic Excellence, the Sound Devices Prize for excellence in Performance and the Guitar Factory Scholarship.

Sarah-Grace currently lectures at both the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) and the Australian International Conservatorium of Music (AICM) and is regularly engaged as Musical Director and Vocal Specialist for the Catholic Schools Performing Arts (CaSPA). She has composed, arranged and recorded music for films, theatre productions, symphonic ensembles and chamber groups and remains a highly sought after Vocal Coach. Sarah-Grace continues to work as a freelance Clarinettist and Pianist.