“Teufelsgeigerin!”
“Her music sheds light on the depths of the human soul.”
“The orchestra plays so perfectly together only when she’s concertmaster.”
Celeste Williams is an outstanding Canadian violinist living in Munich, 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.
Her concerts have so far led her to seventeen 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. She is currently working on her PhD in Musicology.
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.
BIOGRAPHY
BIOGRAPHY
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 is featured 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 is currently working on her Ph.D. in Musicology.
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 was 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).
PRIVATE LESSONS
PRIVATE LESSONS
The private studio in Solln offers violin and viola lessons to students of all levels who are:
Preparing for competitions / university entrance exams / orchestra auditions
Returning to music after time away
Beginners
Students who are majoring in other subjects and are interested in developing their musical selves
Learning music uses the entire brain and has been proven to help students in their non-music related studies. Lessons led by both an artist and an academic offer guidance to all individuals, and take their personal aspirations into accordance.
Students under the age of 14 are eligible for a free 30 min. trial lesson.
Prices
Everyone is welcome to a non-committal trial lesson.
Trial lessons are free of charge for students under the age of 14 and 20€ for adults.
Monthly fee for regular weekly lessons:
90€ – 30 minutes per week (for children under 8 years old)*
120€ – 45 minutes per week*
150€ – 60 minutes per week*
10 flexible single lessons: 450€
Lessons held at a student’s home are subject to an additional transportation fee.
*Monthly cost on the basis of a guaranteed minimum of 37 lessons per year.
**The contract may be terminated at any time with 2 months’ notice.
RECORDINGS
RECORDINGS
Niccolò Paganini: 24 Caprices for Solo Violin Op. 1
Recorded using gut strings (EMEC Discos Madrid)
Niccolò Paganini: 24 Caprices for Solo Violin Op. 1
Recorded using gut strings (EMEC Discos Madrid)
Spanish Composers of Today – Delfín Colomé (EMEC Discos Madrid)
Spanish Composers of Today – Delfín Colomé (EMEC Discos Madrid)
Schumann Violin Concerto
Mozart B flat Major Violin Concerto K207 (2nd movement)
Ravel Tzigane
Bach g minor Adagio and Fugue
Mozart B flat Major Violin Concerto K207 (3rd movement)
Paganini Caprice No. 5
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
AWARDS
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