DepartmentConservatory of Music
Biola AffiliationsFaculty

Biography

Keith Williams, a highly acclaimed solo cellist, has garnered top honors in various competitions, including the 2019 1st prize at the Burbank Philharmonic Hennings-Fischer Young Artist Competition. He currently collaborates with pianist Dr. Andrew Boyle in the Boyle.Williams duo, winning the prestigious Beverly Hills National Auditions in 2023. Williams received his bachelor’s degree under Timothy Eddy at The Juilliard School and pursued his master of music degree with Ralph Kirshbaum at the University of Southern California.

As an award-winning chamber musician, Williams has worked with members from the esteemed Amernet, Borromeo, Brentano, Cleveland, Colorado, Juilliard, Orion, and Shanghai string quartets, as well as artists such as Robert McDonald, Glenn Dichterow, Augustin Dumay, Yura Lee and the Boston Trio. He's most recently shared the stage with the critically acclaimed Verona Quartet, and is a founding member of the Biola Piano Trio.

Williams' orchestral journey has taken him to iconic venues globally, including Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Vienna’s Musikverein, New York’s Carnegie Hall and Boston’s Symphony Hall and Jordan Hall. His extensive experience as principal cello across multiple orchestras has enabled him to coach students to secure their own principal positions.

Williams' commitment to education founded the College of Cello, a specialized institution tailored for adult cellists, offering lessons, theory classes, original cello etudes and fostering a supportive community for cellists of all levels. As the Adjunct Professor of Cello at Biola University, he passionately mentors the next generation of artists, using his experience to help prepare them for whatever career they pursue.

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