April Williams, a native Los Angeles Arts Education activist, currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Musicians at Play Foundation. She has held that position for seven years and is responsible for the artistic oversight and coordination of virtual and live public performances, the MAP Mentor Orchestra’s overall strategic and operational plan, year-round programs, educational outreach, and community involvement. In addition, Williams oversees the training programs for the direct internal organizational processes and infrastructure, and is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing operational facets of the annual budget. She also monitors the quality of program execution and provides expert guidance on project management and personnel performance, as well as the organization’s marketing, communications, public relations, production, orchestra operations, media, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
Williams has a gift for building audiences and bringing communities together through arts and culture, education, and diverse partnerships. The variety and depth of musical acts, from intimate 3-piece combos to 23-piece big bands and orchestras, keeps serious and casual music listeners coming back for more.
Among Williams’ successes was her tenure as an estate agent for Prudential Realty where her yearly sales topped the $40 million mark. In addition, she was a top producer, a training director, and a member of the Chairman’s Circle Gold Division for 10 years. In 2008, when the financial crisis resulted in evictions and loss, April provided live music as a healing source by bringing Los Angeles communities together. April is the creator of the Red-Carpet Jazz Series for Upstairs at Vitello’s in Studio City, producing over 2,000 concerts in Los Angeles between 2008-2014. An advocate for live music, education and LA musicians, April’s series created over 20,000 live performance jobs for musicians, vocalists, music educators, and sound engineers.
She is responsible for dozens of groundbreaking artistic initiatives that include the launch of five new virtual learning programs, a virtual orchestra and vocal series, major multi-disciplinary projects, and dozens of live professional performances and community events. April’s tenure with Musicians at Play has been defined by her close relationships with such prominent musicians and composers as John Williams, Michael Giacchino and her husband, veteran studio percussionist Don Williams, who has appeared on thousands of film and television soundtracks, popular music recordings, and original cast albums over the past four decades. He is also the brother of the world-renowned, Oscar-winning film composer, John Williams. Generations of Williams-family musicians have been a vibrant force in the classical, pop and film music culture since 1925.
Williams is a life-long Southern California resident and, together with her husband Don, have raised six children.
