WILLIAMS
,
JOHN
(
1856
-
1917
),
teacher of singing and choral conductor
;
b. at
20, Castle Square
,
Caernarvon
,
26 Oct. 1856
, the son of
Humphrey
and
Ann
Williams
. His father was the
precentor in the local Wesleyan chapel
where he also
conducted the choir
. When he was 8 years of age his father arranged for him to be taught the piano by
Robert
Roberts
, the
cathedral organist
at
Bangor
, and later the organ and the principles of harmony by
Dr.
Roland
Rogers
(q.v.)
. In
1880
he was appointed
organist
and
choirmaster
at
Chri Church
,
Caernarvon
. He early distinguished himself as a
choirmaster
. His successes in the national eisteddfod were as follows:
1876
,
1888
,
1891
,
1892
,
1898
,
1909
,
1912
. He
conducted the national eisteddfod choirs
at
Caernarvon
1886
,
1894
, and
1906
, and at
Colwyn Bay
1910
. He gave performances of the ‘
Messiah
,’ ‘
Elijah
’
and other works of the masters in their entirety; and he produced the works of
Gilbert
and
Sullivan
for the
Caernarvon operatic society
. The
Royal Eryri male voice choir
, under his
conductorship
, gave a concert at
Windsor castle
in
1899
, and he was rewarded with a handsome baton. The choir also sang in
Caernarvon castle
at the
investiture of the prince of Wales
in
1911
. His health broke down in
1914
and a public testimonial was presented to him in recognition of his services; and his wife received a pension from the
Civil List
. He d.
25 Nov. 1917
, and was buried in
Llanbeblig
churchyard.
Bibliography:
-
Y Cerddor
,
Jan. 1900
,
July 1915
,
Jan. 1918
.
Author:
Robert David Griffith, M.A., (1877-1958), Old Colwyn
