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Modern

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Catrin Mair Williams is a Welsh classical pianist who has gained international recognition for her exceptional talent and musicality. Born in 1982 in Llanelli, Wales, Williams began playing the piano at the age of five and quickly showed a natural aptitude for the instrument. She went on to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, where she received a Bachelor of Music degree with first-class honors. Williams continued her studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she earned a Master of Music degree with distinction. During her time at the Academy, she was awarded the prestigious Hodgson Fellowship, which allowed her to study with renowned pianist and teacher Christopher Elton. Williams also received guidance from other distinguished musicians, including Joanna MacGregor, Pascal Devoyon, and Stephen Kovacevich. Throughout her career, Williams has been recognized for her exceptional talent and musicality. In 2002, she won the Welsh Young Musician of the Year competition, and in 2003, she was awarded the prestigious Martin Musical Scholarship Fund. She has also been a finalist in several other competitions, including the Royal Overseas League Music Competition and the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship. Williams has performed extensively throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, as well as in the United States and Asia. She has appeared as a soloist with many of the UK's leading orchestras, including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the London Mozart Players. She has also given recitals at major venues such as the Wigmore Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, and the Bridgewater Hall. One of Williams' most notable performances was her debut at the BBC Proms in 2008, where she performed Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The performance was widely praised for its sensitivity and musicality, and cemented Williams' reputation as one of the UK's most promising young pianists. In addition to her performances as a soloist, Williams is also an accomplished chamber musician. She has collaborated with many of the UK's leading instrumentalists and ensembles, including the Carducci Quartet, the Gould Piano Trio, and the London Bridge Trio. She is also a member of the chamber ensemble Ensemble Cymru, which is dedicated to promoting Welsh music and musicians. Williams is known for her versatility as a pianist, and has a particular affinity for the music of Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms. She has also championed the music of contemporary composers, and has premiered works by many Welsh composers, including Mervyn Burtch and Guto Puw. In addition to her performing career, Williams is also a dedicated teacher and mentor. She has taught at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the Royal Academy of Music, and the Purcell School for Young Musicians. She is also a regular mentor for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales' Young Musician's Scheme, which provides opportunities for young musicians to work with professional orchestras. Williams' recordings have received critical acclaim, and she has released several albums on the Nimbus Alliance label.

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