With a five octave voice described as "enchanting" and a "sheer beauty of sound," Flint native, Pia Broden Williams, has an instrument that defies simple categorization. Ms. Williams grew up singing gospel, jazz, and R&B, but has since gone on to sing with various opera companies and ensembles, including the Flint Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Opera Theatre.

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On the classical music stage, Ms. Williams made her European orchestral debut in Limonest, France, also appearing in Austria, where she captivated concert audiences with her performance of Olympia’s “Doll Song” from The Tales of Hoffman. In Graz, she was a semi-finalist in the annual International Meistersinger Vocal Competition. She has enjoyed singing such roles as Olympia, Adina (cover), Serpina, Laetitia, and Lauretta.

 

In addition to classical voice, she has appeared in such theatre productions as Ain’t Misbehavin’ and All Night Strut. Ms. Williams was also the female singer for 1930’s/40’s style big bands, The Night Lights, Tuxedo Junction, and Jump Street Swing Band. She has appeared with several jazz ensembles and jazz festivals, both nationally and internationally.

 

Ms. Williams is currently the vocalist for the Brazilian Music Collective, Canja de Boa, performing Brazilian jazz, folk, and Brazilian popular music (MPB) in Portuguese. She often appears in a duo with bandmate and guitarist, Kyle Canjar. The duo performs in a wide range of styles at venues around Flint and metro-Detroit. Ms. Williams recently joined the Stardusters Big Band of Clarkston, MI, as their female vocalist. Additionally, she plays piano and organ for a church in Rochester Hills.

 

Besides performing, Ms. Williams is a vocal coach and proudly served as voice faculty at the Flint School of Performing Arts, where she taught students of all ages for over 15 years.

 

Soprano Pia Broden Williams holds a master's degree in vocal performance from Michigan State University and two bachelor's degrees from the University of Michigan, in vocal performance and philosophy.