Anna Williams

GRAMMY- nominated violinist, Anna Marie Williams, has been described as “a glowing presence” (Boston Globe) and as “truly amazing, sending a tingling sensation up my spine” (Fanfare Magazine). An equally passionate soloist and chamber musician, Ms. Williams’ performances, described as “beautifully shaped” (Wall Street Journal), have often been cited among the “Best of the Year” by publications including The New York Times, BBC Radio 3, and the Boston Musical Intelligencer, which has described those performances as “enthusiastic and artful”, displaying “energy and elegance”.

Ms Williams’ recent recital appearances include Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the Fisher Center at Bard College, New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, The Boston Opera House, Merkin Hall at the Kaufman Music Center, the Rockport Celtic Festival at Shalin Liu Performance Center, Boston Athenaeum, La Jolla Athenaeum, PS21 Performance Spaces for the 21st Century (NY),and abroad in Izumi Hall in Osaka, Japan, Blackheath Halls in London, Tuupovaaran Ullakko in Finland, Kulturni Center Belgrade in Serbia, and Begemot Art Gallery in Barcelona, Spain.

Recent solo engagements include the 2023 world premiere performance of “Summit”, a new triple concerto by celebrated American composer, Robert Paterson under the baton of legendary conductor, Joann Falletta. Other recent solo performances with orchestra include appearances with the Brown University Orchestra, the Desert Community Orchestra, the Fall River Symphony, the California Chamber Orchestra, the Rhode Island Youth Philharmonic, the San Diego State University Symphony Orchestra, the Antigua Symphony Orchestra (Guatemala) and the New England String Ensemble, among others.

Ms. Williams has had the privilege of both premiering and recording solo works written expressly for her, including “She Moves With The Music: A Violin Concerto” by Panamanian composer, Jorge Bennett as well as “Fields of Gold for Violin and Piano” by American composer, Lisa Heffter.

Ms. Williams is the founding violinist of the critically acclaimed and GRAMMY-nominated Neave Trio. Described as “a brilliant trio” (Music-Web International), “a consummate ensemble” (Palm Beach Daily News) and recognized for both their “bright and radiant music-making” (WQXR) as well as “having exceeded the Gold Standard and moved on to Platinum” (Fanfare Magazine), the Neave Trio enjoys concert and recording success across the United States and abroad, performing on some of the finest chamber music series in the United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Finland, and Serbia. The Neave Trio is signed to the prestigious Chandos Record Label as Exclusive Recording Artists, with a continually expanding discography. Beginning In November of 2016, the Neave Trio released their first album for Chandos, American Moments, featuring works by Foote, Bernstein and Korngold. The success of this album lead to the Trio’s second album for Chandos, French Moments, which featured works by Faure, Roussel and Debussy and was featured on WQXR’s list of “The Best New Recordings of 2018”. In October of 2018, the Trio released Celebrating Piazzolla on the GRAMMY – winning Azica Record Label, featuring works by Astor Piazzolla, including new arrangements of Piazzolla’s songs for piano trio and mezzo-soprano. Gramophone described their recording of The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires as “thrilling,” having “wild energy,” and “electrifying,” while Classics Today wrote, “the energetic edginess, the snap, the rhythm sound convincing, totally invigorating, and authentic”. The Trio’s fourth album, Her Voice was released in the Fall of 2019, again for the Chandos Label, and featured works by all women composers; Farrenc, Beach and Clarke. Her Voice was selected as “Best of 2019” by BBC Radio 3 and by the New York Times as one of “The 25 Best Classical Music Tracks of 2019”. Neave Trio’s fifth album for the Chandos label was the GRAMMY- nominated Musical Remembrances, featuring trios by Ravel, Rachmaninoff and Brahms. This album gained early support from BBC Radio 3’s Katie Derham and Andrew McGregor, as well as The Wall Street Journal, which wrote that, “Neave offers a fine, intelligently paced interpretation with many lovely touches… and expressive alchemy among the players…”

A true believer in the importance and vitality of collaboration, Ms Williams has sought out and curated collaborations across many mediums, including those with dancers, choreographers, filmmakers, and visual artists. Recent collaborations include projects with artist David Michalek, choreographer Richard Colton and the MIT School of Architectural Design, The Massachusetts College of Art, filmmaker Amanda Alvarez, projection artist Ryan Brady and Blythe Barton Dance. In the spring of 2022, Ms Williams and Neave Trio premiered their collaborative work, Gathering Light, an immersive musical and visual experience featuring the music of Ravel and the work of visual artist and Harvard University professor, Sharon Harper. Upcoming collaborations include Rising, an evening of reflection, music and dance with choreographer Gabrielle Lamb and the PigeonWing Dance company, featuring a world premiere work by acclaimed American composer, Robert Sirota.

The recipient of the Lillian Fuchs Prize and the Fisch/Axelrod Award, Ms. Williams holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music (BM), the Longy School of Music of Bard College (MM, GPD) and San Diego State University (Artist Diploma). Ms. Williams is a graduate of the Walnut Hill School/New England Conservatory joint program. Festival appearances have included Yellow Barn, National Arts Centre (under director, Pinchas Zukerman), the Banff International Centre (Canada), Bowdoin International Chamber Music Festival, Niagara on the Lake, Halcyon Chamber Music Festival, and the Bard Summer Music Festival, among others.

Ms. Williams is a passionate teacher, having served as Teaching Assistant to the world-renowned pedagogue, Patinka Kopec at the Manhattan School of Music (Pre-College). She has also served on the faculties of San Diego State University, The Castleman Quartet Program, Bard Conservatory (Pre-College) the ArtsAhimsa Festival and the Winsor School as well as adjudicator for the Bard Conservatory Pre-College and Society of American Musicians competitions.

Ms. Williams currently serves on the violin and chamber music faculties of the Virginia Commonwealth University and the Longy School of Music of Bard College. Her students have been accepted, with scholarships, to premiere conservatories, schools of music and universities, including the New England Conservatory of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, Boston University, Northwestern University, Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, the Peabody Conservatory, and the Longy School of Music of Bard College, among others.

Ms. Williams plays on a 1794 Joseph and Antonio Gagliano violin.