Anna Williams, a Samford University graduate of class '19, recently received a 2023 Rocky Mountain Southwest Emmy award for her production of Arizona Encore’s A Chorale Christmas: Navidad in the Audio Live or Post Produced category. This Huntsville native and accomplished musicologist has an inspiring journey that led her from dreams of performance to a successful career in music production.
Beginning her journey at Samford University, Williams aspired to become a performing artist, majoring in music performance with a concentration in viola. She served as SGA Senator and was a member of the music fraternity, Delta Omicron.
“Some of my favorite things as a student at Samford were the small classes, the connections with faculty, and my music school family,” said Williams.
One of the significant influences during her time at Samford was Associate Professor of Musicology, Dr. Beth McGinnis, whom Williams credits for her career aspirations.
While at Samford, Williams not only found her passion but also met her husband, Chris. They shared adjacent music lockers and attended several classes together. After sustaining a significant arm injury, Williams was unable to continue her career in music performance. She shifted her focus and pursued a master's degree in musicology from Arizona State University, propelling her towards a new career in music production.
During her graduate studies, Williams worked part-time at Arizona Encore, a radio show featuring classical and acoustic music. The show, housed within the KAET station, also aired live on Arizona PBS. Williams quickly climbed the ranks, first as an Assistant Producer and then promoted to Producer within a year.
“I love the technical part of my job and the community aspect of bringing attention to artists that people don’t normally hear from,” said Williams.
Anna Williams's journey from a student with dreams of performance to an Emmy-winning music producer is both inspiring and remarkable. Her story stands testament to the fact that sometimes, the detours in life can lead us to our true calling. We look forward to seeing the future accomplishments of this Samford alum.