2012-2013 Competition Winner – Keith Williams, cello

Keith Williams started cello lessons when he was five years old. He is currently studying with Eugene Kim at the New England Conservatory’s Preparatory School where he also studies chamber music with Natasha Brofsky and Roger Tapping. He is co-principle cellist of the Boston Youth Philharmonic Orchestra under Benjamin Zander. As part of the inaugural class for From the Top’s year-long Center for the Development of Arts Leadership program, Keith and his team developed a program to bring music into the lives of patients undergoing cancer treatment at Boston’s AstraZeneca Hope Lodge. The previous summer, he collaborated with friends to form a chamber group which played concerts raising money for CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. Then and now, he volunteers his time to play concerts in hospitals and nursing homes. Keith has received numerous awards in competitions. At 15, he won New England Conservatory’s Preparatory School concerto competition and performed in Jordan Hall. He placed second in the American Association of Christian Schools’ nationwide competition after placing first in the Massachusetts chapter of the competition. Other awards include second place in the Brockton-Feinberg 2012 competition, honorable mention in the Boston Symphony Orchestra 2013 competition, and a merit award from the 2012-2013 national Young Arts competition. Keith has performed in masterclasses with such artists as Scott Kluksdahl, Timothy Eddy, and the Borromeo and Colorado string quartets, and collaborated with esteemed artists such as pianist Max Levinson and oboist Peggy Pearson. He won the cello fellowship to attend Foulger International Music Festival last summer, and this summer he will be attending the prestigious Heifetz Institute.