"Debra Williams, Piano Music” is her latest CD recorded in 2017 with legendary producer, Bernie Ellis, in Greenville, SC. This recording of beautiful piano melodies is a perfect embellishment as background music for events and dinner parties.
“Blue Skies" (2014) was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. The CD features Debra singing jazz standards from the Great American Songbook as well as top-notch jazz musicians backing her, including Joe Davidian (piano), Michael Rinne (upright bass), Joshua Hunt (drums), Matt Buchbinder (saxophone) and Oscar Utterstrom (trombone/arrangements). Her producer for this project was Nashville-based jazz vocalist Christina Watson.
Debra earned a Master's Degree in Music from Georgia State University and graduated with honors (Kappa Delta Pi and Pi Kappa Lambda). Her undergraduate studies include music degrees from Columbia College and North Greenville University. She earned music scholarships and toured with the groups the Hi-Cs and Joyful Sound. She served as the president of Hi-Cs, and she was president and student conductor of the Concert Choir. At Columbia College, she was awarded the Frank Z. Harris Award for Outstanding Performer of Opera and Musicals.
Debra performs regularly throughout the Southeastern United States. She tours with her partner and accompanist, Bernie Ellis, sharing jazz standards and cabaret selections. In Greenville, SC, she sang with Eric Barnhart, house pianist at the Westin Poinsett Hotel, and played solo piano there, as well as Green Valley Country Club, Rainers, The Cliffs, and various other venues. While in Nashville, she performed jazz and taught piano and voice. Before that, she toured and recorded with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. She has performed song and dance at Six Flags Over Georgia's Crystal Pistol Palace. Debra has sung various roles in opera and musical productions in her home of South Carolina. Her experience also includes commercial work and acting in the SCETV production, "It's A Rainbow World." While living in Nashville, she played "extra" roles in the ABC series "Nashville" as well as other Nashville-based film projects. As a pianist, she has played for various private parties at the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta as well as regularly at galas for the esteemed Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art in Nashville.
Debra often shares her music with retirement communities. She plays and sings in various units including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and with hospice patients. She has designed a curriculum of music appreciation classes perfectly suited for retirement communities. These sessions are a balance of lighthearted yet academically challenging topics. The topics range from the music of composers such as Beethoven and Mozart to jazz and gospel music genres.
As an educator, she has taught music to children in K-12 in public and private schools in South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. She has served as an adjunct music professor teaching music appreciation classes at Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton, SC. This program serves as a bridge for students at Clemson University. She taught Lifelong Learning courses covering operas, musicals, and composers at Furman University in Greenville, SC and Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. She served as an adjudicator for The Georgia All-State Chorus and served as MENC elementary chair. Her article, “Criteria For Choosing Children's Song” was published in The Gospel Advocate (Fall, 2000). Debra's Music Studio in Nashville included clientele of adults and children from prominent political and celebrity families. Most Sundays, Debra serves in various churches as a choir director, pianist, or vocal soloist.
Debra is available for performances on piano and/or vocals ranging from jazz to classical for galas, receptions, weddings and churches. She also performs with her partner and accompanist, Bernie Ellis, sharing jazz standards and cabaret selections. For booking, please email dconnelly923@yahoo.com
She is also available to teach piano and voice with a personally developed curriculum to students of all ages in an encouraging environment. Please see Debra's Music Studio for more information.