William Carter

William Carter is a leading exponent of the lute, theorbo, and other early plucked stringed instruments. He is also a prominent educator. Shortly after arriving in London for studies with Nigel North, Carter became a member of the Palladian Ensemble, the Academy of Ancient Music, and The English Concert, rising to the position of principal lutenist with the latter two groups. Carter's recording debut came in 1994 as a theorbist on the seventh volume of the Hyperion label's complete cycle of anthems and services by Purcell. In 2002, Carter backed vocalist Clara Sanabras on the album The New Irish Girl and Other Folk Songs and Ballads to the Lute. In 2005, he released his solo debut, La Guitarre Royalle: The music of Francesco Corbetta. By the early 2020s, his recording catalog comprised some 45 items, covering a wide variety of music, including 2022's Esaias Reusner: Delitiae Testudinis.