Friday, June 14th

Included in CBC Music's 2017 edition of "30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30," Paul Williamson has established 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. He is also a prizewinner of the 2020 WMC McLellan Competition and received 3rd prize at the 2022 Shean Piano Competition and the 2023 Bader and Overton Canadian Piano Competition.

Currently a Doctor of Musical Arts degree candidate at Northwestern University, Williamson also holds degrees from the Colburn School (AD, Mmus) and the University of Manitoba (Bmus). He has studied under James Giles, Fabio Bidini, David Moroz, and Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Williamson has participated in the following festivals: Morningside Music Bridge, Aspen, Orford, Music Academy of the West, Scotia, Creative Dialogue XIII; and held residency at the Avaloch Farm Music Institute. In the spring of 2023, Williamson recorded his debut solo album featuring the music of Franz Liszt for Naxos Records. He has also recorded an album of the music of Canadian composer Tristan Zaba alongside Canadian soprano Mckenzie Warriner for the Centrediscs label. Williamson is grateful to have his career supported by the Amron-Sutherland Grant for Young Pianists from the Colburn School and for the support of the BC Arts Council.