After school, Amy began to freelance as a Coach Accompanist in regional opera companies
including Des Moines Metro Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Nevada Opera and Augusta Opera. She
served as Music Director/Tour Manager of OPERAIowa for two seasons, the educational
arm of Des Moines Metro Opera (1989-90). She completed two years in the Houston
Opera Studio as Apprentice Coach Accompanist for Houston Grand Opera productions,
taking post-graduate coursework at the University of Houston and studying privately
with Carlisle Floyd (1990-92). Amy spent the next six years teaching music in the
private school; two years at Bellaire Christian Academy in Houston (1992-94) and
four years at Des Moines Christian School (1994-98). As a music educator, Amy built
a choral music department, taught drama and directed theatrical productions, offered
private lessons in voice and piano and created a small a cappella ensemble, Victory,
that participated in an International Youth Music Festival, performing concerts in
Bavaria, Germany and Prague, Czech Republic (1998).
Beginning in the 1998-99 season, Amy has served as Chorus Master and Accompanist
of Nashville Opera. Since 2003, she has held the post of Opera Director for Tennessee's
Governor's School for the Arts. In addition to these positions, Amy freelances as
a Vocal Coach and Accompanist and makes regular concert appearances. She has led
Master Classes at Florida State University, Belmont University, Western Kentucky
University and Middle Tennessee State University. In 2015 she acted as both Stage
Director and Conductor for a full production of Lehar’s The Merry Widow for Middle
Tennessee State University. In 2017 she served a 3-week stint as Guest Musical Coach
at University of Memphis. From November 2017 through December 2018 Amy served as
Interim Minister of Music at Crievewood Baptist Church in Nashville, TN.
COMPOSITIONAL
Amy Tate Williams was first published by Broadman Press in 1986. Her anthem," Only
Jesus," appeared in the periodical Gospel Choir. Starting in 1992, Beckenhorst Press
re-released "Only Jesus" and also published several choral anthems as well as two
vocal collections, Songs of the Savior, Vol. I and II. In 1998, Abingdon Press published
her anthem, "Bitter Cry." Her first children's opera, Rumpelstiltskin, was produced
for two touring seasons by Des Moines Metro Opera (1996-97) and by Nashville Opera's
touring OPERANet (2000). Her second children's opera, The Looking Glass, was produced
as fulfillment of a doctoral thesis at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 2005.
PERSONAL
Amy has maintained a personal ministry of music since her teen years, composing,
arranging and performing songs from her own faith experience. She is a student of
scripture and desires to lead others into meaningful worship of God through her music.
She believes He has gifted and trained her for this specific purpose.
Amy Tate Williams
PROFESSIONAL
Amy Tate Williams is a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky, the youngest child of Boyce
and Amelia Tate. She holds a Bachelor's of Music Degree in Piano Performance from
Western Kentucky University (1985) a Master's Degree in Piano Performance (1987)
from Florida State University and another Master’s Degree in Piano Accompanying (1988).
Her primary instructors were Ms. Sylvia Kersenbaum, Dr. Marilyn Neeley and Dr. Carolyn
Bridger, all of whom were international solo and collaborative pianists.