Wiiliam Girard (USA)

Coach and Pianist

A native of Canton, Ohio, Mr. William Girard began his musical studies on the piano at age 7. He enjoyed a rich, musical upbringing including later studies in trumpet, cello, organ, and voice, and performances with choruses, orchestras, and in stage productions in his hometown. He entered the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music, earning a Bachelor’s degree in composition under Loris Chobanian, and receiving awards in organ-playing and composition. His graduate work began at the University of North Texas, where he studied conducting with Anshel Brusilow and organ with Donald Willing.  He completed his doctoral studies in Opera at the University of Texas at Austin under Walter Ducloux.

In Austin, Mr. Girard served as Music Director in Residence of the Capitol City Opera where he conducted La traviata, Le nozze di Figaro, Rigoletto, and I Pagliacci. He also conducted Ruddigore and Trial by Jury with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Austin, and Il barbière di Siviglia with the Austin Lyric Opera.

He also served as assistant and organ soloist with the Austin Symphony Orchestra. In 1989, Mr. Girard conducted the world premiere of Bizet’s early one-act opera, La maison du docteur in his own edition and orchestration.

He moved to Stuttgart in 1991, assuming the position of coach/conductor (Solorepetitor mit Dirigierverpflichtung) with the Stuttgart State Opera, where he has conducted Haydn’s Il mondo della luna and Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti. In addition to his duties in Stuttgart, he has also conducted The Gondoliers for the Lyric Opera of Dallas. Further engagements include the Stuttgart Ballet, the Southwest German Radio Chorus, the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, the Royal Theater of Madrid, the Strasbourg Opera, and the Ludwigsburg Festival.