Laura Evans-Williams

Laura Evans-Williams (7 September 1883 – 5 October 1944) was a Welsh soprano singer.

Early life and education

Laura Evans was born in Henllan, Denbighshire in the north-east Wales and was the eldest child of a castrator (1901 census), John Evans, and his wife Ellen Evans. Her sister was the director Eleanor Evans. Evans-Williams was educated at Howell's School, Denbigh and later the Royal Academy of Music where she studied under the guidance of Edward Iles who helped to develop her voice.[1]

Career

She started her career as a contralto singer and won prizes at several eisteddfodau. She performed in the 1911 edition of The Proms in the event's 28th day. Evans-Williams also interpreted several operatic arias, particularly Welsh folk-songs and toured extensively with fellow contralto singer Clara Butt during World War I.[1][2]

In 1910, Evans-Williams was featured as soloist in Edward Elgar's Caractacus in London, with Merlin Morgan conducting.[3]

Evans-Williams had been invited to give the performance of the National Eisteddfod's traditional chairing song at the 1917 event held in Birkenhead, but she sang I Blas Gogerddan when it was announced the winner of the chair, Ellis Evans, had been killed in battle. Evans-Williams had already lost her beloved brother, Stanley at Ypres in 1916 and would lose her elder brother, Hugh George at Peronne in 1918.[4] She sang the chairing song when the Eisteddfod moved to Wrexham sixteen years later, and received an encore.[1]

Evans-Williams undertook a concert tour of the United States in 1925–1926.[5] She was the first Welsh artist to broadcast from Savoy Hill.[1]

Personal life

Laura Evans-Williams moved back to Colwyn Bay in 1940 after living in London and taught singing until she died on 5 October 1944. Evans-Williams was survived by her husband for 39 years, R.T. Williams, and two children; she was buried at Henllan.[1]

References
  1. Iorwerth Ellis, Thomas. "Evans-Williams, Laura". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  2. "Proms 1911 Prom 28 – event". BBC. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  3. "The London Welsh Choral Society" The Times (4 May 1910): 12. via Newspapers.com
  4. "A Sad Moment at the Eisteddfod" Vancouver Daily World (26 October 1917): 6. via Newspapers.com
  5. "Recital to be Given at Bethania Church" Scranton Republican (4 February 1925): 5. via Newspapers.com
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