Equally comfortable on the podium with the orchestra on stage or conducting from the pit, Maestro Waldrop has been hailed for his ‘dynamic conducting’ and is a frequent guest conductor with orchestras throughout the United States. show more bio
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"The choral singing here, under the direction of William Waldrop, is gorgeous."
New York Times

William Waldrop

Broadway Music Director, Conductor and Pianist, William Waldrop, most recently served as the Associate Conductor for Broadway’s longest running musical, The Phantom of the Opera. This summer, Waldrop was highly praised for his work as Music Supervisor/Music Director of Cats: The Jellicle Ball at New York City’s brand new Perelman Performing Arts Center  (The New York Times: “The choral singing here, under the direction of William Waldrop, is gorgeous.”) Equally comfortable on the podium with the orchestra on stage or conducting from the pit, Maestro Waldrop has been hailed for his ‘dynamic conducting’ and is a frequent guest conductor with orchestras throughout the United States. He is known for being comfortable in a wide range of musical genres and styles—from Broadway and the American Songbook, to Rock & Roll, Swing and Motown, to the unforgettable hits of the Beatles.

Waldrop’s appearances as guest conductor include performances with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, The Florida Orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Portland Symphony Orchestra, the Sarasota Orchestra, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Las Vegas Philharmonic, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the Long Beach Symphony, the Boise Philharmonic, the Lexington Philharmonic, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. 

Waldrop has been associated with The Phantom of the Opera since 2008. In addition to working with the Broadway company, he currently serves as the Associate Musical Supervisor for the new production in South Korea (2023). In 2019, he was the Associate Musical Supervisor for the International Tour, which launched in Manila, Philippines. In 2018, Waldrop was the Musical Supervisor for a new production in Copenhagen, Denmark. He has also been involved with other productions worldwide, including Oberhausen, Germany (Associate Musical Supervisor), the US National Tour – Music Box (Music Director) and Las Vegas (Assistant Conductor).  

In 2017 Waldrop finished a highly celebrated run as Music Director and Conductor of the Broadway revival of Cats at the Neil Simon Theatre. In 2014, Waldrop completed a 30-city tour as the Music Director and Conductor of the revival of Evita (Broadway National Tour) and conducted the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra in Washington, D.C. for the tour’s final performances.  Prior to leading the very successful national tour, he was the Associate Conductor for the Broadway production at the Marquis Theatre starring Ricky Martin, Elena Roger and Michael Cerveris.

In addition to working with other esteemed musical artists such as Michael Lynche and Leona Lewis, Waldrop has collaborated (as a conductor, music director or pianist) with many Broadway and cabaret stars, including Betty Buckley, Rachel York, Christiane Noll, and Klea Blackhurst. Waldrop has also played or conducted in the pits of other Broadway shows including Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, On The Town and Fiddler on The Roof.  He has led chamber ensemble productions of Grey Gardens (Bay Street Theatre), South Pacific (Asolo Repertory Theatre) and A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (Off-Broadway). 

As a composer, Waldrop premiered his brand new solo concert Still, and Still Moving: The Music of William Waldrop at New York City’s famed (and former) Metropolitan Room. Waldrop’s music has also been heard in other popular NYC venues such as Birdland, The Laurie Beechman Theatre and New World Stages. 

An accomplished vocal coach, Waldrop accompanies and advises many star clients who are currently performing in Broadway productions, national tours and beyond. Also an active educator, he leads regular master classes throughout New York City for such groups as The Growing Studio, Broadway Classroom, Broadway in Motion and Broadway Workshop. 

Waldrop’s extensive experience on Broadway and his love for the American Songbook have made him a sought after conductor and one of the brightest new faces on the symphonic pops stage today.

Waldrop received his Master of Music degree from The Peabody Conservatory and his Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Mississippi.