William Petter is a freelance choral director, tenor and singing teacher based in London. He began his musical life as a chorister at New College, Oxford, under the direction of Edward Higginbottom. Whilst studying for a degree in Neuroscience at University College, London, he started singing as a tenor, and went on to study as a postgraduate at the Royal Academy of Music, for which he gained the highest award, distinction with DipRAM.

He has been musical director of Concordia Voices since 2011, and also directs the professional choir of St Magnus the Martyr, and chamber choir Sine Nomine Singers. He previously directed the Orpington and District Free Church Choir, performing many great works with them including Bach Easter Oratorio, Handel Messiah, Stainer Crucifixion, Mendelssohn Elijah, as well as Mozart Requiem, Solemn Vespers K339, Piano Concerto no 23 in collaboration with Forest Philharmonic. He teaches singing at Orchard House School and St Michael and All Angels, Bedford Park, as well as having a flourishing private practice.

As a singer, he enjoys a busy oratorio career, working for groups including Oxford Bach Choir, Oxford Harmonic Society, Hull Bach Choir, Queens Park Singers, Chigwellian Singers and Benson Choral Society. He gives recitals and has performed Die Schöne Müllerin in Oxford, Petts Wood and Burgh House, Hampstead, and an English song recital in Oxford, for which he was given an award by the John Ireland trust. He also enjoys consort work, working with groups including The Sixteen, the Choir of the Enlightenment, Philharmonia Voices, Britten Sinfonia Voices, London Voices, Westminster Abbey Choir, Westminster Cathedral Choir and other London church choirs. Future plans include recording the St Magnus Choir’s first CD, leading a choral workshop of Fauré Requiem for Arts Richmond and singing the part of the Evangelist in Bach St Matthew Passion for Carshalton Choral Society.

We are sorry to report that William passed away in September 2016 after following a 3-year battle with cancer.  He was 34.