250-Word Version:
M. Brent Williams <www.mbrentwilliams.com> was Asst. Prof. of Violin/Viola at Fort Lewis College and Lecturer of Violin/World Music at Valdosta State University in addition to summer faculty positions at the Music in the Mountains Conservatory, Chapel Hill Chamber Music Workshop, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He was also previously Concertmaster of the San Juan Symphony and Albany Symphony Orchestra. A dedicated chamber musician, Williams is the violinist/violist of enhakē who collectively won the Grand Prize at the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition, First Prize at the 3rd International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition, and was a finalist at the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition and Festa (Japan). enhakē has been praised for their “playing of the very highest caliber” (Fanfare) and “keen instinct for exciting programmes” (BBC Music Magazine). Their latest CD, Prepárense: The Piazzolla Project, has been described as “positively delightful…[t]he sense of ensemble is near-miraculous” (Fanfare). Williams has also performed chamber music with the award-winning Sima Trio, violinists Jinjoo Cho, L.P. How, and Matt Albert, bassist Frank Proto, and guitarist Oren Fader. He received his DM and MM from Florida State University and his BMA from the University of Oklahoma. Williams has recorded for the MSR, Naxos, Koch, Emeritus, Barsuk, Pias America, Nub, and Alchemist record labels. Upcoming 2021-22 season highlights include: appearances at the Durango Chamber Music Festival, performing with the Rio Verde String Quartet as part of Dvořák Expeditions’ “Classical Music Journey”, recording enhakē's latest CD, and being a part of the Chamber Music Society of Wichita's inaugural season.
LONG VERSION:
M. Brent Williams is currently on a sabbatical from teaching, having followed his beautiful wife to Wichita, KS. There he spends an inordinate amount of time raising their two young children who, although not of Russian descent, could best be described as a mighty handful.
Previously, he was Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola at Fort Lewis College (CO) as well as a full-time Lecturer of Violin and World Music at Valdosta State University (GA). In the summers, he held faculty positions at the Music in the Mountains Conservatory (CO), Chapel Hill Chamber Music Workshop (NC), Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (MI), and the FSU Music Camp (FL). Williams was Concertmaster of the San Juan Symphony (CO/NM), Concertmaster of the Albany Symphony Orchestra (GA), Assistant Concertmaster of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra (FL), Assistant Concertmaster of Sinfonia Gulf Coast (FL), and Principal Second Violin of the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra (GA). He has performed concerti with the SJS, VSO, SGC, ASO, the Opera Teatro di Lucca Chamber Orchestra (Italy), and the Valdosta State University Percussion Ensemble. Williams has given master classes/lectures at: the University of North Texas, Conservatory of Music—The University of the Pacific, Wichita State University, Utah State University, the University of Costa Rica, the University of Florida, Tennessee Tech University, the University of Central Florida, the University of California—Sacramento, North Georgia College and State University, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre, Brasil), Texas A & M University, Universidade de Brasilia (Brasilia, Brasil), Stephen F. Austin State University (TX), Angelo State University (TX), Northwestern State University (LA), Colorado Mesa University, and the Bach Institute of Music (San Jose, Costa Rica).
A dedicated chamber musician, Williams is a member of the Rio Verde String Quartet and violinist/violist of enhakē <www.enhake.com>. With this latter group he won the Grand Prize at the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition (OH), First Prize at the 3rd International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition at Carnegie Hall (Boston/NY), the Judges Special Recognition Award at the Plowman Chamber Music Competition (MO), and was a finalist at the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition and Festa (Osaka, Japan). enhakē has been praised for their “playing of the very highest caliber” (Fanfare) and “keen instinct for exciting programmes” (BBC Music Magazine). The group’s 2010 Carnegie Hall recital was lauded for its “rock solid rhythmic integrity...strengths in balance, intonation, and musicality” and described as a “polished, yet spontaneous performance” (The New York Concert Review). They have appeared in residency in South Korea, Costa Rica, Brasil, and at universities across the United States. enhakē’s latest CD, Prepárense: The Piazzolla Project, was called “positively delightful…[t]he sense of ensemble is near-miraculous” (Fanfare).
Williams has also collaborated in chamber settings with artists as diverse as the award-winning Sima Trio, violinists Jinjoo Cho, L.P. How, and Matt Albert, bassist Frank Proto, and guitarist Oren Fader to zheng virtuoso Haiqiong Deng and Brazilian music expert Welson Tremura. His arrangements/transcriptions of Argentine tangos and Brazilian choros have been performed in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, France, Turkey, Switzerland, and across the United States. Furthermore they have been praised for being “uniformly excellent and imaginative” (Fanfare) as well as “[done] with considerable skill” (Infodad.com). These interests in particular led him to present a lecture-recital titled “Arranging for Would-Be Tangueros” at the CMS International Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina (June 2013).
An accomplished violist as well, Williams first began receiving instruction from former Houston Symphony Orchestra principal, Wayne Crouse, during his undergraduate years and has since appeared on numerous chamber music programs on the instrument in addition to performing professionally with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra and Gainesville Chamber Orchestra. He held violin and viola teaching assistantships at Florida State University (FSU) and in October of 2013 he presented a lecture-recital titled “Introducing Viola to Violinists” as part of VSU’s 3rd Annual Viola Day Workshop.
In addition to his leadership roles in orchestras, he has ascended the podium as conductor of the Tallahassee Symphony Youth Orchestra Symphonic Strings, director of the FLC String Ensemble, founder/director of the VSU Pan-American Ensemble, co-director of the TSYO Fiddlers, founder/director of the FLC Pan-American Ensemble, director of the Durango Bach Festival Finale Concert, and conductor of the Music in the Mountains Family Concert (2017), which was followed with an invitation for the following season. He has also served as a clinician and coach to a number of other secondary school orchestras through the years.
Administratively, he has served as the Music in the Mountains Assistant Conservatory Director, Artistic Director of the Durango Chamber Music Festival, Program Coordinator at the Brevard Music Center, VSU’s String Chamber Music Coordinator, Artistic Director of the Durango Bach Festival Finale Concert, Personnel Manager for Sinfonia Gulf Coast, Orchestra Librarian for the VSO and FSU orchestras, Strings Coordinator at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and the Music in the Mountains Conservatory Young Advanced Division Manager.
Williams received his DM and MM from Florida State University and his BMA from the University of Oklahoma. He has recorded for the MSR, Naxos, Koch, and Emeritus labels (classically) as well as for Barsuk, Pias America, Alchemist, Nub, and Engine Shed records (for non-classical projects).
Upcoming 2021-22 season highlights include: appearances at the Durango Chamber Music Festival, performing with the Rio Verde String Quartet as part of Dvořák Expeditions’ “Classical Music Journey”, recording enhakē's latest CD, and being a part of the Chamber Music Society of Wichita's inaugural season.
To find out more information, visit his personal website at: <www.mbrentwilliams.com>.
M. Brent Williams <www.mbrentwilliams.com> was Asst. Prof. of Violin/Viola at Fort Lewis College and Lecturer of Violin/World Music at Valdosta State University in addition to summer faculty positions at the Music in the Mountains Conservatory, Chapel Hill Chamber Music Workshop, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He was also previously Concertmaster of the San Juan Symphony and Albany Symphony Orchestra. A dedicated chamber musician, Williams is the violinist/violist of enhakē who collectively won the Grand Prize at the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition, First Prize at the 3rd International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition, and was a finalist at the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition and Festa (Japan). enhakē has been praised for their “playing of the very highest caliber” (Fanfare) and “keen instinct for exciting programmes” (BBC Music Magazine). Their latest CD, Prepárense: The Piazzolla Project, has been described as “positively delightful…[t]he sense of ensemble is near-miraculous” (Fanfare). Williams has also performed chamber music with the award-winning Sima Trio, violinists Jinjoo Cho, L.P. How, and Matt Albert, bassist Frank Proto, and guitarist Oren Fader. He received his DM and MM from Florida State University and his BMA from the University of Oklahoma. Williams has recorded for the MSR, Naxos, Koch, Emeritus, Barsuk, Pias America, Nub, and Alchemist record labels. Upcoming 2021-22 season highlights include: appearances at the Durango Chamber Music Festival, performing with the Rio Verde String Quartet as part of Dvořák Expeditions’ “Classical Music Journey”, recording enhakē's latest CD, and being a part of the Chamber Music Society of Wichita's inaugural season.
LONG VERSION:
M. Brent Williams is currently on a sabbatical from teaching, having followed his beautiful wife to Wichita, KS. There he spends an inordinate amount of time raising their two young children who, although not of Russian descent, could best be described as a mighty handful.
Previously, he was Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola at Fort Lewis College (CO) as well as a full-time Lecturer of Violin and World Music at Valdosta State University (GA). In the summers, he held faculty positions at the Music in the Mountains Conservatory (CO), Chapel Hill Chamber Music Workshop (NC), Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (MI), and the FSU Music Camp (FL). Williams was Concertmaster of the San Juan Symphony (CO/NM), Concertmaster of the Albany Symphony Orchestra (GA), Assistant Concertmaster of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra (FL), Assistant Concertmaster of Sinfonia Gulf Coast (FL), and Principal Second Violin of the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra (GA). He has performed concerti with the SJS, VSO, SGC, ASO, the Opera Teatro di Lucca Chamber Orchestra (Italy), and the Valdosta State University Percussion Ensemble. Williams has given master classes/lectures at: the University of North Texas, Conservatory of Music—The University of the Pacific, Wichita State University, Utah State University, the University of Costa Rica, the University of Florida, Tennessee Tech University, the University of Central Florida, the University of California—Sacramento, North Georgia College and State University, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre, Brasil), Texas A & M University, Universidade de Brasilia (Brasilia, Brasil), Stephen F. Austin State University (TX), Angelo State University (TX), Northwestern State University (LA), Colorado Mesa University, and the Bach Institute of Music (San Jose, Costa Rica).
A dedicated chamber musician, Williams is a member of the Rio Verde String Quartet and violinist/violist of enhakē <www.enhake.com>. With this latter group he won the Grand Prize at the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition (OH), First Prize at the 3rd International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition at Carnegie Hall (Boston/NY), the Judges Special Recognition Award at the Plowman Chamber Music Competition (MO), and was a finalist at the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition and Festa (Osaka, Japan). enhakē has been praised for their “playing of the very highest caliber” (Fanfare) and “keen instinct for exciting programmes” (BBC Music Magazine). The group’s 2010 Carnegie Hall recital was lauded for its “rock solid rhythmic integrity...strengths in balance, intonation, and musicality” and described as a “polished, yet spontaneous performance” (The New York Concert Review). They have appeared in residency in South Korea, Costa Rica, Brasil, and at universities across the United States. enhakē’s latest CD, Prepárense: The Piazzolla Project, was called “positively delightful…[t]he sense of ensemble is near-miraculous” (Fanfare).
Williams has also collaborated in chamber settings with artists as diverse as the award-winning Sima Trio, violinists Jinjoo Cho, L.P. How, and Matt Albert, bassist Frank Proto, and guitarist Oren Fader to zheng virtuoso Haiqiong Deng and Brazilian music expert Welson Tremura. His arrangements/transcriptions of Argentine tangos and Brazilian choros have been performed in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, France, Turkey, Switzerland, and across the United States. Furthermore they have been praised for being “uniformly excellent and imaginative” (Fanfare) as well as “[done] with considerable skill” (Infodad.com). These interests in particular led him to present a lecture-recital titled “Arranging for Would-Be Tangueros” at the CMS International Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina (June 2013).
An accomplished violist as well, Williams first began receiving instruction from former Houston Symphony Orchestra principal, Wayne Crouse, during his undergraduate years and has since appeared on numerous chamber music programs on the instrument in addition to performing professionally with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra and Gainesville Chamber Orchestra. He held violin and viola teaching assistantships at Florida State University (FSU) and in October of 2013 he presented a lecture-recital titled “Introducing Viola to Violinists” as part of VSU’s 3rd Annual Viola Day Workshop.
In addition to his leadership roles in orchestras, he has ascended the podium as conductor of the Tallahassee Symphony Youth Orchestra Symphonic Strings, director of the FLC String Ensemble, founder/director of the VSU Pan-American Ensemble, co-director of the TSYO Fiddlers, founder/director of the FLC Pan-American Ensemble, director of the Durango Bach Festival Finale Concert, and conductor of the Music in the Mountains Family Concert (2017), which was followed with an invitation for the following season. He has also served as a clinician and coach to a number of other secondary school orchestras through the years.
Administratively, he has served as the Music in the Mountains Assistant Conservatory Director, Artistic Director of the Durango Chamber Music Festival, Program Coordinator at the Brevard Music Center, VSU’s String Chamber Music Coordinator, Artistic Director of the Durango Bach Festival Finale Concert, Personnel Manager for Sinfonia Gulf Coast, Orchestra Librarian for the VSO and FSU orchestras, Strings Coordinator at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and the Music in the Mountains Conservatory Young Advanced Division Manager.
Williams received his DM and MM from Florida State University and his BMA from the University of Oklahoma. He has recorded for the MSR, Naxos, Koch, and Emeritus labels (classically) as well as for Barsuk, Pias America, Alchemist, Nub, and Engine Shed records (for non-classical projects).
Upcoming 2021-22 season highlights include: appearances at the Durango Chamber Music Festival, performing with the Rio Verde String Quartet as part of Dvořák Expeditions’ “Classical Music Journey”, recording enhakē's latest CD, and being a part of the Chamber Music Society of Wichita's inaugural season.
To find out more information, visit his personal website at: <www.mbrentwilliams.com>.
