Kirsten Williams - Violin

Kirsten Williams is amoung Australia's finest violinists. Born in Sydney,
Kirsten began her studies with Jean Jacobs at the age of four and won her first eisteddfod at age 6. She continued her violin studies at the Sydney Conservatorium High School with Alice Waten. While at school, Kirsten was co-leader of the sydney youth chamber orchestra and performed as soloist in sarasates "Zigeunerweisen" on their 1983 tour of the United States. She commences her Performers Diploma at the Sydney Conservatorium at age 15, the youngest student ever to do so and upon graduating with high distinction, she performed the Sibelius Concerto with the Conservatorium Orchestra.

After Winning several scholarships including the Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Award and the Werner Baer Award, she continued post graduate studies with Professor Igor Ozim in Bern , Switzerland. During the next 18 months Kirsten was pursued to perform as soloist with the Bern Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonishe Akademie Bern and the Bern Chamber Orchestra on a tour of Switzerland and France. She was also offered a full time position in Camerata Bern but instead returned to Sydney for a year to accept the position of second violin leader with the Australian Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Carl Pini. Feeling the need to experience more of what was going on elsewhere in the world again, Kirsten travelled to London where she was offered a full time 1st violin position in the Royal Opara House Orchestra Covent Gardern. Her love of the smaller setting of chamber orchestra saw her accept a position with the Academy of St Martin in thhe Fields as wellas working with the Philharmonia of London and the London Symphony Orchestra. During her time in England Kirsten continued her pursuit of violin excellence in private lessons with Felix Andrievsky and attended the renowned Britten Pears Summer Academy Course in Aldeburgh.

Kirsten returned to Australia in 1992 to become the Associate Leader of teh Australian Chamber Orchestra where she was soloist on the cultural tour China as well as soloist for National Tours and the Mostly Mozart Festival. Guest concertmaster roles followed with the Queensland Symphony, the Australian Opera Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony.

Kirsten was chosen to give the premiere of Nigel Butterley's violin concerto with the Queensland Orchestra which was met with rave reviews and performed the Tchaikovsky with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. Active as a chamber musician, performances with acclaimed pianist Michael Kieran Harvey, were some of the notable musical experiences for Miss Williams. The duo gave recitals at the Melbourne and Mittagong Festivals, ABC Live Broadcasts and released CD's featuring the work of Australian composers James Gordon Andersaon and Peter Tahourdin.

After the birth of her daughter Jessica in 1996, Kirsten pursued her passion for teaching at Cranbrook,Kings,Aschamand Barker Schools. In returning to full time performing again, Kirsten was appointed co-associate concertmaster with the Sydney Symphony in 2000 and appeared as soloist with John Harding in Arvo Part's double violin concerto "Tabla Rasa" conducted by Martin Aslop. She also directed and led the Australian Youth Orchestra's Premiere Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Australia on their much acclaimed tour of Canada and the USA.

In addition to her teaching,Kirsten is active as a soloist and chamber musician and is sought after to record music by contemporary Australian Composers. She performs in a violin and harp duo with exquisted harpest Jane Rosenson with whom she has recorded two CDs of arrangements for violin and harp which has met with much interest abroad. Future engagements include recitals in Italy,Brazil and Switzerland at the Mendelssohn House in Interlaken.