David Williams

Interim Music Director

David Williams is the new Interim Director for the Nashua Choral Society, starting in August, 2024. He is in his seventh year as music Director at Plymouth Congregational Church in Plymouth, New Hampshire. A native of Washington D.C. he spent most of his teenage years sitting in the empty concert hall of the John F. Kennedy Center observing rehearsals under the direction of his mentor, Mstislav Rostropovich, the celebrated cellist and music director of the National Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Rostropovich gave Mr. Williams his first lessons in orchestral conducting, allowing him to conduct the NSO in brief supervised rehearsals. This includes the July 3, 1988 dress rehearsal for the Fourth of July program in front of an audience of 35,000. In 1980, he was introduced to his childhood hero, Leonard Bernstein. This led to a friendship that lasted until Bernstein’s death in 1990. Maestro Bernstein’s guidance has shaped his musical life to this day. Mr. Williams began his studies at Franklin Pierce College before transferring to Jacksonville University where he studied choral conducting under Dr. Jon O. Carlson. 1991 he was appointed assistant conductor to Dr. Hubert Bird at Keene State College, Keene, NH. During this one-year position as artist in residence, he prepared two performances of the works of Aaron Copland including a semi-staged performance of Copland’s three-act opera, The Tender Land. During this time, he founded the Monadnock Youth Orchestra, serving as director for three years and in 1995 was appointed music director of the First Congregational Church, Swanzey NH. He also guest conducted the Keene Pops Choir. In 1998, he was appointed music director of Eastport United Methodist Church in Annapolis, MD. During his 9-year tenure he created the Eastport Handel Messiah Festival and the Eastport Fine Arts Series. In addition to 3 Messiah Festivals, he conducted numerous community programs of works including the Requiems of Rutter, Faure, Durufle and Mozart, the Vivaldi Gloria, Lauridson’s Lux Aeterna and the Vierne Solemn Mass. In 2010 he was appointed music director of the Hanover Chorus in Hanover, MA and served for 6 seasons. In Plymouth, NH he has worked to build community connections with Plymouth Congregational Church, New Hampshire Music Festival and Plymouth State University. With Plymouth State there have been collaborative performances of the Vivaldi Gloria and the Rutter Requiem. In 2023, he formed the Plymouth Festival Chorus and Orchestra at Plymouth Congregational Church. During the 2023-24 season there will be performances of the Vierne Solemn Mass, Copland’s Appalachian Spring, Thompson’s Frostiana in October, a service of Lessons and Carols for Epiphany on January 5 and a complete performance of Handel’s Messiah in April.

Justin McCarthy

Pianist

Justin has worked as an accompanist and teacher in the greater Boston area for over 20 years. Currently, he serves as collaborative pianist for the Department of Music, Theatre, & Dance at Plymouth State University. Justin has given recitals in New York, Boston, Houston, Dallas, Ireland, and the Czech Republic. As conductor, his recent productions have included Mary Poppins, The Drowsy Chaperone, Wedding Singer, Jacques Brel, Godspell, Little Women, Offenbach ’s Orpheus in the Underworld, and Carmina Burana. Dr. McCarthy ’s music is published by GIA Publications, Inc. He has appeared in recital with violinist Elliott Markow, clarinetist Stephanie Ratte Jenkins, and sopranos Donna Lombardo & Emily Jaworski. Recently, Justin has collaborated with conductor, Dan Perkins on concert versions of “Parade,” and “Ragtime.” He received his Bachelor & Master’s degrees from Rice University, and his Doctorate from Boston University. His teachers have included Paul Cooper, Robert Roux, Bruce MacCombie, and Lukas Foss. Dr. McCarthy has performed in masterclasses with Richard Goode and Abbey Simon, and coached with John Perry. In addition to maintaining an active teaching studio, Justin runs performance workshops, and is the staff accompanist at the Manchester Community Music School. He currently serves as music director and organist of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Bedford, NH.