MEET WILLIAM PRESTON

Fueled by the excitement of collaborating with many partners and various instruments, William Preston has made a presence in the Madison, Wisconsin music community as a sought-out collaborative pianist. His mission is to support all collaborators musically and mindfully, allowing for open communication and healthy mindsets to explore and pursue the most fulfilling art that can be achieved. Preston is completing his doctorate degree in collaborative piano at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a minor in opera coaching. During this time, Preston has served as the vocal coach for UW’s production of The Light in the Piazza, and rehearsal pianist for La Traviata, Albert Herring, Sweeney Todd and Jake Heggie’s Two Remain: Out of Darkness. Additionally, he has played keyboard in the pit orchestra for the shows. This past summer, Preston was the musical director for Middleton Players Theatre’s production of Big Fish. In this role, Preston prepared the cast, rehearsed the orchestra and conducted the company’s six-show run.

 

Preston has worked as a choir pianist with all of UW’s choirs, as well as the Wisconsin Chamber Choir and Cheers Madison choir. He accompanies singers regularly, as well as instrumentalists, including UW faculty members Alicia Lee, Conor Nelson and James Waldo, as well as guest artists saxophonist Timothy McCallister and clarinetist Sang Yoon Kim. He has been coached by renowned artists like Renée Flemming and Graham Johnson. Additionally, Preston has worked as a church organist for the past sixteen years.

 

This upcoming year, Preston will teach keyboard skills and intermediate accompanying to the piano majors at UW. He will continue accompanying students and will join Children’s Theater of Madison as keyboardist for their upcoming production of Cinderella. Preston has received his bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Dr. Timothy Shafer from the Pennsylvania State University and his master’s degree in collaborative piano from Professor Martha Fischer from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.