Nardus Williams, winner of the Rising Talent award at the 2022 International Opera Awards, has established herself as one of the most exciting and versatile young British singers of her generation.

A sought-after performer on both the operatic and concert stages, Williams has appeared with leading orchestras and opera companies worldwide. She has performed at prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Berlin Philharmonie, and has collaborated with renowned ensembles including the Academy of Ancient Music, Dunedin Consort, and Philharmonia Baroque. Her artistry has also been showcased at major festivals, including the BBC Proms and the Edinburgh International Festival.

Williams is equally celebrated for her work in contemporary music, having premiered new works such as George Lewis’ The Comet / Poppea and Errollyn Wallen’s Dido’s Ghost. Her recital programme, I never laid eyes on Aeneas…: Women’s Stories From The Ancient World, created in collaboration with Dame Mary Beard and Elizabeth Kenny, has been widely acclaimed.

Williams’ operatic career has included roles such as Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Countess in Le nozze di Figaro, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Anne Trulove in The Rake’s Progress, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Mimì in La Bohème, and Micaëla in Carmen. She has performed with companies such as Glyndebourne, English National Opera, Opera Holland Park, and Opéra de Rouen Normandie.

A prolific concert artist and recitalist, Williams has appeared with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Toronto Symphony Orchestra, among others. She has performed at leading recital venues such as Wigmore Hall, St. John’s Smith Square, and at festivals including Oxford Lieder and Leeds Lieder.

Williams trained at the International Opera School at the Royal College of Music, where she was the sole recipient of the prestigious Kiri Te Kanawa Scholarship. She is a former member of the Houston Opera Studio, a Jerwood Young Artist at Glyndebourne, and a Harewood Artist with English National Opera.