Eric Williamson

Eric Williamson (he/him) is a Grammy-nominated music educator, conductor, scholar, and advocate for equity in the arts. He serves as Artistic Director of Lavender Light: The Black and People of All Colors Lesbian & Gay Gospel Choir, now celebrating over four decades of excellence. Under his leadership, the ensemble has performed at major venues including City Winery NYC, the United Nations, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center, continuing its legacy of Black Gospel music with a mission centered on Black and Brown queer communities.

A collaborative artist, Williamson creates dynamic intersections across genres, cultures, and communities. He has led partnerships with the Grammy Award-winning Klezmatics who’s forthcoming album, We Were Made For These Times (May 2026), reflects this expansive vision, featuring La Manga and Joshua Nelson. He has also collaborated with Davone Tines and served as music director for hip-hop artist Eve and Queen of House music, ADEVA. 

Williamson’s artistic work is grounded in scholarship and advocacy. He is a published author in If Colors Could Be Heard: Narratives About Racial Identity in Music Education, contributing to ongoing conversations about identity, equity, and liberatory practices in music education and in the Music Educators Journal. He holds degrees from Pennsylvania State University (B.A.) and Teachers College, Columbia University (M.A.). A sought-after conductor and clinician, he regularly works with Carnegie Hall’s Music Educator Workshop.

Williamson is also a national leader in arts education and inclusion. He has presented at the El Sistema USA National Conference and SphinxConnect and serves as a National Facilitator for the Human Rights Campaign’s Welcoming Schools program. His work has been featured on NY1, Good Morning America, and Pix11 News.

He currently teaches music at PS 532: New Bridges Elementary School  in Brooklyn and is an adjunct professor at NYU Steinhardt, where he founded the Black Music Ensemble, centering music by Black and Brown composers and affirming LGBTQIA+ identities.

More at www.ericwilliamson.org
Instagram/TikTok: @mrwilliamsonmusicroom