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Camilla Ella Williams (October 18, 1919 – January 29, 2012) was an Americanoperaticsoprano who performed nationally and internationally. After studying with renowned teachers in New York City, she was the firstAfrican American to receive a regular contract with a major American opera company, theNew York City Opera.[1] She had earlier won honors in vocal competitions and theMarian Anderson Fellowship in 1943–44.
In 1954 she became the first African American to sing a major role with theVienna State Opera. She later also performed as a soloist with numerous European orchestras. As a concert artist, she toured throughout the United States as well asAsia,Australia andNew Zealand. In 1977, she was the first African American appointed asProfessor of Voice atIndiana University, where she taught until 1997.
On October 18, 1919, Camilla Ella Williams was born inDanville, Virginia, to Fannie Carey Williams, a laundress, and Cornelius Booker Williams, a chauffeur. She was the youngest of four children. Her siblings were Mary, Helen, and Cornelius. Williams grew up in a poor neighborhood with music as an important part of her family. Even her grandfather, Alexander Carey, was a choir leader and singer. Her parents instilled an appreciation for music, church, and education during her childhood. By the age of eight, Camilla enjoyed playing the piano, and singing at school and Danville's Calvary Baptist Church.[2][3]
Williams trained at Virginia State College, nowVirginia State University, and received herbachelor's degree in music education.[2] After her college education, she left her job as a third grade teacher to study music inPhiladelphia with a prestigious voice instructor,Marion Szekely Freschl. To help Williams pay for her new studies,Tossie P. Whiting, former English teacher of hers at Virginia State College, founded the Camilla Williams fund.[2] She earned aMarian Anderson Award in 1943 and 1944, and she continued to receive honors in vocal competitions.[4][5][3]
Beginning in 1944, Williams performed on the coast-to-coastRCA radio network. In 1946 she was the first African American to receive a regular contract with a major American opera company, making her debut with theNew York City Opera in the title role inPuccini'sMadama Butterfly.[6] Her performance was hailed by a critic forThe New York Times as "an instant and pronounced success."[1] During her time at the New York City Opera, she performed Nedda inLeoncavallo'sPagliacci, Mimi in Puccini'sLa bohème, Marguerite in Gounod'sFaust, Micaela in Bizet'sCarmen, and the title role inVerdi'sAida.[6][2]
Williams sang throughout the United States and Europe with various other opera companies. In 1951 she sang Bess in the landmark, first complete recording ofGershwin'sPorgy and Bess, alongside bass-baritoneLawrence Winters and conductorLehman Engel.[3][7] Though she enjoyed the recording experience, she believed strongly that the work ought to be restaged to better portray contemporary African American life, reflecting her decision to refrain from performing the work on stage.[2]
In 1954 she became the first African American to sing a major role with theVienna State Opera, and performed her signature role inMadama Butterfly. In August 1963, as part of the civil rightsMarch on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, she sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at theWhite House and, when scheduled performerMarian Anderson was delayed trying to get through the gathered throngs, Williams sang the anthem before 250,000 people at theLincoln Memorial, beforeMartin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.
A noted concert artist, Williams toured throughout the United States, Latin America, in fourteen African countries, as well as numerous countries in Asia: Formosa, South Korea, China, Japan, Laos, South Vietnam, the Philippines, New Zealand and Australia.[6][2] In addition, she was a soloist with theRoyal Philharmonic,BBC Symphony,Berlin Philharmonic,Vienna Symphony,Chicago Symphony,Philadelphia Orchestra and theNew York Philharmonic under the direction ofLeopold Stokowski. In 1950 she recordedMahler'sSymphony No. 8 with Stokowski and the New York Philharmonic.
During the 1970s, Williams taught voice at many places, includingBrooklyn College, Bronx College,Queens College,Talent Unlimited, andDanville Museum of Fine Arts.[8]
Williams was the first African-American Professor of Voice appointed to the voice faculty of what is now known as theIndiana UniversityJacobs School of Music in 1977. In 1984 she became the first African-American instructor at theCentral Conservatory of Music inBeijing,China. In 1997 Camilla Williams became a Professor Emerita of Voice at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, but continued to teach privately.[6]
In 1950, Williams married Charles T. Beavers, acivil rights lawyer who worked closely withMalcolm X. He died in 1969.[1]
From 2000 to 2011, she lived in companionship with her accompanist Boris Bazala, fromBulgaria.[1]
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