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Faculty Yumi Hwang- Williams
Biography:Yumi Hwang-Williams is a violinist whose intelligent and stylish interpretations, exceptional musicianship and commanding technique have earned her a reputation as an artist of considerable stature. In particular, she is known for her commitment to exploring and performing the works of contemporary composers, with whom she frequently has the opportunity to collaborate. In March 2003, she made her debut with the Indianapolis Symphony under the baton of Lawrence Leighton Smith playing the moving Lament and Prayer by Aaron Jay Kernis, written to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the holocaust. The performance was described as 'notable for the outstanding interpretation of the solo violin part'. Also in 2003, in an historic collaboration between the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop, John Adams, John Corigliano and Christopher Rouse, at the CSO Contemporary Music Festival, Ms Hwang-Williams' brilliant account of the Rouse Violin Concerto was proclaimed by the composer to be 'the definitive version'. A previous performance of the Rouse Violin Concerto, at the prestigious Cabrillo Music Festival in 2001, was deemed 'Sensational!' by the Wall Street Journal. At the 2003 Cabrillo Festival in August, Ms Hwang-Williams was the soloist in the West Coast premier of Michael Daugherty's Fire and Blood for Violin and Orchestra. She was also featured in recital with eminent pianist/conductor Dennis Russell Davies in Lou Harrison's Grand Duo . Both performances were lauded by critics and audiences alike. In November 2003, she was the soloist in Vivaldi's Four Seasons with the CSO and conductor Peter Oundjian. Yumi Hwang-Williams began violin studies at the age of ten in Philadelphia , one year after emigrating from South Korea . At fifteen, she appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and was accepted as a student of Jascha Brodsky and Yumi Ninomiya-Scott at the renowned Curtis Institute of Music where she went on to receive her Bachelor of Music degree. She has also studied with Sylvia Rosenberg, Joseph Silverstein, and David Arben, former Associate Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, who continues to be her mentor. Since her solo debut with the Colorado Symphony during the 1999-2000 season, with Marin Alsop conducting, Ms Hwang-Williams has made annual solo appearances with the CSO. In 1999, she made her debut with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra playing the Dvorak Violin Concerto with Paavo Jarvi on the podium. She has appeared as soloist with the Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Mozart Orchestra, Cincinnati Sinfonietta, and the Centennial Philharmonic, among others. Ms. Hwang-Williams is an avid chamber musician and recitalist and has collaborated with such artists such as Gary Graffman, Ida Kavafian, Christopher O'Riley, John Kimura Parker and Robert Koenig. She has been featured on National Public Radio and Colorado Spotlight |
