In 1946 she was the first African American to receive a regular contract with a major American opera company, making her debut with the New York City Opera in the title role in Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Career īeginning in 1944, Williams performed on the coast-to-coast RCA radio network. She earned a Marian Anderson Award in 19, and she continued to receive honors in vocal competitions.
Whiting, former English teacher of hers at Virginia State College, founded the Camilla Williams fund. To help Williams pay for her new studies, Tossie P. After her college education, she left her job as a third grade teacher to study music in Philadelphia with a prestigious voice instructor, Marion Szekely Freschl. Williams trained at Virginia State College, now Virginia State University, and received her bachelor's degree in music education. By the age of eight, Camilla enjoyed playing the piano, and singing at school and Danville's Calvary Baptist Church. Her parents instilled an appreciation for music, church, and education during her childhood. Even her grandfather, Alexander Carey, was a choir leader and singer. Williams grew up in a poor neighborhood with music as an important part of her family. Her siblings were Mary, Helen, and Cornelius. On October 18, 1919, Camilla Ella Williams was born in Danville, Virginia, to Fannie Carey Williams, a laundress, and Cornelius Booker Williams, a chauffeur. In 1977, she was the first African American appointed as Professor of Voice at Indiana University, where she taught until 1997. As a concert artist, she toured throughout the United States as well as Asia, Australia and New Zealand. She later also performed as a soloist with numerous European orchestras.
In 1954 she became the first African American to sing a major role with the Vienna State Opera. She had earlier won honors in vocal competitions and the Marian Anderson Fellowship in 1943–44. After studying with renowned teachers in New York City, she was the first African American to receive a regular contract with a major American opera company, the New York City Opera. Camilla Williams, photo taken by Carl Van Vechten, 1946.Ĭamilla Ella Williams (Octo– January 29, 2012) was an American operatic soprano who performed nationally and internationally.
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