Celeste Williams is an outstanding Canadian violinist living in Germany, who has earned recognition as soloist and concertmaster on the international scene.  The darkness of her sound combined with the brilliance of her technique make for a truly unforgettable experience.

Still in her 20s, her concerts have so far led her to sixteen countries in North America, Europe and Asia.  Her achievements to-date are as monumental as they are diverse, ranging from her recording of Paganini’s 24 Caprices using gut strings (EMEC Discos Madrid) to becoming the youngest ever concertmaster of the World Youth Orchestra.

The violins

From 2006 to 2010 she was generously loaned a c.1793 Joseph Gagliano violin from a private supporter.  Now she performs on a Turinese 1912 Edoardo Marchetti violin.

Celeste Williams was welcomed into the studio of Professor Philippe Djokic of Dalhousie University at the age of six, and two years later made her solo debut with a symphony orchestra. She performs throughout continental Europe, North America and Asia and appears often as soloist with symphony orchestras.

She studied with Prof. Lukas Hagen and Prof. Klara Flieder-Pantillon at Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria, and completed both Bachelor and Master degrees with highest distinction.

She has performed in sixteen countries; in North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa.  At the age of 22, Celeste travelled to Madrid to record the 24 Paganini Caprices for solo violin using gut strings.

Her concertmaster experience started at the age of 14, and in 2010 Celeste became the youngest ever concertmaster of the World Youth Orchestra, based in Rome. In 2013 she was concertmaster of Wien Klang Sinfonietta on tour through China, and just before completing her Master studies in 2015 she became concertmaster of the Bad Reichenhaller Philharmonie.

She is the youngest of “The Chronicle Herald‘s Top 20 20-somethings”; an honour given to the twenty most influential young adults of any profession in Eastern Canada.  Among other prizes in international competitions, Celeste was awarded first prize in the Padova International Competition in Italy with her “4-Way Duo” duo partner Patrick Pok-man Leung, with whom she has performed the complete cycle of Mozart Violin Sonatas in Salzburg, Austria. Together she and Patrick founded the Discovery Bay Youth Orchestra and the Discovery Bay Chamber Music Festival in Hong Kong.

Also a violist, Celeste has performed with the Salzburg Piano Quartet, Camerata Salzburg and as principal violist of Philharmonie Salzburg.

Celeste has been featured on radio and television channels such as CBC (Canada), ORF Television (Austria), RTHK (Hong Kong) and Radio Prague (Czech Republic).

“Teufelsgeigerin!”

“Her music sheds light on the depths of the human soul.”

“The orchestra plays so perfectly together only when she’s concertmaster.”

2012   

2nd Prize Luigi Zanuccoli International Violin Competition

2011 

1st Prize Padova International Chamber Music Competition

2010   

4-Way Duo chosen by Ian Stoutzker, co-founder of Live Music Now with Yehudi Menuhin, to represent Austria’s part of the foundation

2009

Recipient of “The Chronicle Herald‘s Top 20 20-somethings”; an honour given to the twenty most influential young adults of any profession in Eastern Canada.

2006

Personally requested to perform for the inauguration of the Honorable Mayann Francis, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia

Debut Atlantic Royal Bank Award for Musical Excellence

2005

Recognition of contribution to the culture of Nova Scotia from the Honorable Myra A. Freeman, Lieutenant Governor

Nova Scotia Talent Trust Ray Simpson Award