Paul Williamson
Collaborative piano
Included in CBC Music’s 2017 edition of “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30,” Paul Williamson is quickly establishing himself as one of Canada’s promising young pianists. He received first prize at both the 2014 Canadian National Music Festival and the 2017 Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association National Piano Competition in addition to three semifinal awards (for the best performances of Canadian, Chopin, and Baroque compositions). He is also a prizewinner of the 2020 WMC McLellan Competition and the 2022 Shean Piano Competition. As a soloist, he has appeared with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra, and the Fraser Valley Symphony Orchestra.
In recital, Williamson has been featured by the Grand Piano Series, Valley Concert Society, the Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg, Virtuosi Recital Series, GroundSwell, the Hornby Festival, Colburn at the Steinway Gallery, Café Classico Series, and the Agassiz Festival. He has performed in masterclasses for such distinguished artists as Eliso Virsaladze, Yefim Bronfman, Paul Lewis, Veda Kaplinsky, Matti Raekallio and others. He has participated in the Morningside Music Bridge International Music Festival, the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Orford Academy program, the Scotia Festival of Music, and the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival.
Williamson completed his bachelor’s degree from the University of Manitoba, studying under David Moroz. In the first year of his studies, he won both of the school’s competitions: the annual concerto competition and the Lawrence Genser Music Scholarship competition (given to the most outstanding undergraduate performer). Since 2018, Williamson has studied at the
Colburn School under Fabio Bidini, completing a master’s and currently enrolled in the Artist Diploma program. While at Colburn, Williamson has also received artistic guidance from Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
An advocate of new music, Williamson is a regular member of the Colburn Contemporary Ensemble, most recently performing alongside Andy Akiho. Williamson also participated in Creative Dialogue XIII where he studied with Magnus Lindberg, Joonas Ahonen, and Anssi Karttunen. As a member of the Zyra Trio, Williamson has held residency at the Avaloch Farm
Music Institute, workshopping the music of Joan Tower.
A dedicated teacher himself, during his time at Colburn, Williamson has been part of the Jumpstart Young Musicians Program—an initiative which provides free music lessons for underprivileged youth. In the 2022 winter term, Williamson took a break from his studies to serve on the faculty of the University of Manitoba, teaching as a piano instructor. He has also been a guest artist for tonebase LIVE, discussing the music of Sofia Gubaidulina. In the spring of 2023, Williamson will be recording his debut solo album featuring the music of Franz Liszt for Naxos Records. Williamson is grateful to be a recipient of the Sharon Stevenson Career Development Scholarship and for the support of the Manitoba Arts Council and the BC Arts Council.
In recital, Williamson has been featured by the Grand Piano Series, Valley Concert Society, the Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg, Virtuosi Recital Series, GroundSwell, the Hornby Festival, Colburn at the Steinway Gallery, Café Classico Series, and the Agassiz Festival. He has performed in masterclasses for such distinguished artists as Eliso Virsaladze, Yefim Bronfman, Paul Lewis, Veda Kaplinsky, Matti Raekallio and others. He has participated in the Morningside Music Bridge International Music Festival, the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Orford Academy program, the Scotia Festival of Music, and the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival.
Williamson completed his bachelor’s degree from the University of Manitoba, studying under David Moroz. In the first year of his studies, he won both of the school’s competitions: the annual concerto competition and the Lawrence Genser Music Scholarship competition (given to the most outstanding undergraduate performer). Since 2018, Williamson has studied at the
Colburn School under Fabio Bidini, completing a master’s and currently enrolled in the Artist Diploma program. While at Colburn, Williamson has also received artistic guidance from Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
An advocate of new music, Williamson is a regular member of the Colburn Contemporary Ensemble, most recently performing alongside Andy Akiho. Williamson also participated in Creative Dialogue XIII where he studied with Magnus Lindberg, Joonas Ahonen, and Anssi Karttunen. As a member of the Zyra Trio, Williamson has held residency at the Avaloch Farm
Music Institute, workshopping the music of Joan Tower.
A dedicated teacher himself, during his time at Colburn, Williamson has been part of the Jumpstart Young Musicians Program—an initiative which provides free music lessons for underprivileged youth. In the 2022 winter term, Williamson took a break from his studies to serve on the faculty of the University of Manitoba, teaching as a piano instructor. He has also been a guest artist for tonebase LIVE, discussing the music of Sofia Gubaidulina. In the spring of 2023, Williamson will be recording his debut solo album featuring the music of Franz Liszt for Naxos Records. Williamson is grateful to be a recipient of the Sharon Stevenson Career Development Scholarship and for the support of the Manitoba Arts Council and the BC Arts Council.
