The Metropolitan Opera Chorus is mourning the loss of Danrell Williams.

In a statement the chorus said, the bass was a “dear colleague and brother” and “by all accounts was one of the happiest, most generous, caring, and funniest members of our family. Danrell’s humor will always encourage us to not take life too seriously, and his legendary generosity reminds us that our work colleagues really do feel like family. We’ll remember his riveting story-telling, and of course his silly nicknames for each of us.”

The chorus added, “We’re so sorry that we’ve lost his immense talent, but most of all his heart, as he was always there to lend a hand to help up off the stage, to give a gift to us or a family member, or a good-natured insult to make us laugh.
Out of all of Danrell’s friends in the opera house, perhaps one of our ‘follow spot’ operators knew him best. During the overture on any given night, with the show curtain closed, one of Danrell’s friends in the lighting department would find him in the crowd and focus a spotlight directly on him.”

Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin also took to social media to mourn the loss of the chorus member writing “Rest In Peace, dear Danrell Williams.”