Dr. Bradley Williard

• D.M.A. University of Kentucky
• M.M. Manhattan School of Music
• B.M. University North Carolina School of the Arts

Dr. Bradley Williard, dramatic bass, joined the music faculty at Mars Hills University in the Fall of 2018.

Dr. Williard’s performance career includes performances at Cincinnati Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Sarasota Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Kentucky Opera, Pensacola Opera, Piedmont Opera, and Opera Southwest to name a few. He has sung with Kentucky Symphony, Virginia Tech Bach Concert Series, Amherst College Concert Series, as well as two world tours with the American Spiritual Ensemble

Dr. Williard has also trained at the Ilse Middendorf Institute for Perceptible Breath® in Berlin, Germany, and in the principles of Breathing Coordination by Carl Stough in New York. He has served on the administration of both Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School, guest lecturer at UNC Chapel Hill, and continues to serve as breathing clinician for UNC School of the Arts.

Dr. Williard’s students have performed on the stages of Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera, Santa Fe Opera, San Diego Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Kungliga Opera Stockholm, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Portland Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Aspen Opera Center, as well as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. They have become finalists and semi-finalists of the Houston Grand Opera Studio and Ryan Opera Center Ensemble of Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as regional winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Council. They have advanced onto prestigious vocal programs such as Manhattan School of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Indiana University, New England Conservatory, University of Michigan, Peabody Conservatory, UNC School of the Arts – A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute, Boston University, as well as the Miami Wagner Institute, Music Academy of the West, and Marilyn Horn’s “The Songs Continues”.

Dr. Williard’s scientific research looks at voice quality as a reflection of the unique coordination between mind, body, and voice. His research shows that in order for this coordination to work most efficiently and effectively, one must come into relationship with the Self, develop self-confidence, and embrace vulnerability. Only then can they discover and express their true authentic voice.