Llyr Williams
Born in 1976 in Pentrebychan, North Wales, Llyr Williams took a first class alpha degree in music at Queen’s College, Oxford followed by a postgraduate scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music where he won every prize and award.
His extraordinary performance at Young Concert Artists Trust auditions in 2002 led to his recital debut at the Edinburgh Festival that same year and he has returned each year since. In 2004 Llyr received a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award and in 2005 the MIDEM Classique ‘Outstanding Young Artist Award in partnership with the International Artist Managers’ Association’. In June 2005 his playing of Beethoven, Schubert and Liszt was featured as the cover CD on BBC Music Magazine. This March, his first commercial CD of music by Chopin is released on the Quartz label.
As a BBC New Generation Artist, Llyr has appeared with all the BBC Orchestras, making his Prom debut in 2005 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jiri Belohlávek. In July 2006 Llyr makes his USA debut with the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Osmo Vanska playing Beethoven’s Concerto No.3, and in August 2006 repeats this concert at the Edinburgh Festival. Llyr appears at the Edinburgh Festival for the fourth time this year, both as soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra, and in recital.
Llyr continues to perform regularly with Sinfonia Cymru, directing two Mozart Concerti from the keyboard for a documentary on his life recently commissioned by Welsh Television (S4C) and continuing the complete Beethoven Concerti series, culminating in April 2006 with a 10th Anniversary Concert with Bryn Terfel. Future plans include concerts in Germany, Luxembourg, France and the USA. In June 2007 Llyr returns as official accompanist to the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.
From 2000-2002 Llyr was a ‘Shinn’ Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music coaching singers and studying conducting and was an active member of the Live Music Now! scheme for several years.