William Averill | Pianist

William Averill is truly a “collaborative keyboardist”, at home not only at the piano, but equally at the harpsichord, fortepiano, and organ. Mr. Averill spent four years honing and refining his skills at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he completed a MM in Vocal Accompanying, studying with Kenneth Griffiths and Donna Loewy, and an Artist Diploma in Opera Coaching. Mr. Averill began his studies at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, where he completed bachelor degrees in piano, flute, and music education. He has recently completed his doctoral degree at the Early Music Institute of IU, Bloomington, majoring in harpsichord and fortepiano with Elisabeth Wright.

Mr. Averill has established himself as an opera coach, working for festivals such as the Opera Theatre of Lucca, Italy, Wolf Trap Opera Company, Utah Festival Opera, San Diego Opera and Central City Opera. As the culmination of the Artist Diploma at CCM, Mr. Averill conducted the United States premiere of Vivaldi’s first opera, Ottone in villa. He also returned to CCM in 2005 to conduct their production of Händel’s Ariodante. Mr. Averill has established himself as a forerunner in the field of early music, and has performed throughout the US, Europe, Asia, and Scandinavia as a harpsichordist, fortepianist and organist. He is currently a member of Mercury Baroque Orchestra in Houston, Texas.

Mr. Averill has taught at the prestigious Indiana University School of Music, where he had the opportunity to work closely with the famed Met soprano Martina Arroyo. He has worked with numerous renowned conductors and directors such as John Copley, Tito Cabobianco, and Colin Graham. Mr. Averill has played in master classes for Marilyn Horne, Rudolph Piernay, Benita Valente, Harmut Höll, John Wustman, and in the Baroque repertoire for Emma Kirkby, Nicholas McGegan, and Julianne Baird. He is currently on the faculty at Ohio University, where his teaching responsibilities include classes in lyric diction, song repertoire, as well as vocal coaching for the opera program and voice majors.