Nolan Williams, Jr., 41, grew up the son, grandson and great-grandson of Baptist ministers, immersed in the sacred sounds and rhythms of African-American song. The music became his vocation, and today he is a composer, director, and the CEO of NEWorks Productions, collaborating with artists from Aretha Franklin to the National Symphony Orchestra. On Saturday, he will conduct the choral group Voices of Inspiration and the NSO in “Sanctuary: A Sacred Sounds Concert” at The Arc Theater in Southeast Washington, D.C. ($10 tickets available at thearcdc.org). He spoke with The Washington Examiner about the faith and the history that inspire his work. Do you consider yourself to be of a specific faith?

I am a Christian first, and I am drawn to it by the story of Jesus Christ and the love of God for the world that he would come to us as one of us to save and redeem us. I’m a practicing Baptist — the tradition has been a part of my family for generations.