About
Gregory K. Williams is the Principal Violist of Parlando and Assistant Principal Violist of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. He is a member of the Golden Williams Duo, a viola-cello duo committed to performing music written by a diverse array of composers. He has performed with the American Symphony Orchestra, American Ballet Theatre, Albany Symphony, New Haven Symphony, Vermont Symphony, Binghamton Philharmonic, The Orchestra Now, the Syracuse Symphony, and the Aspen Music Festival. He has subbed on Broadway for Sweeney Todd and Phantom of the Opera. He was also the founding violist of Rhymes With Opera, performed as a core member of the Red Door Chamber Players, and was the Principal Violist of the Berkshire Opera Festival, and was the Assistant Principal Violist of the Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra. His performances include solo recitals in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and throughout the United States. He has also appeared with popular artists such as The Who, Peter Cetera, Jane Birkin, Iggy Pop, and the Three Irish Tenors. He recently recorded on the concept album for the new musical Goodbye New York, which was released in 2022 at Feinstein’s 54Below. His debut solo album, Shadows, featuring the unaccompanied viola sonatas of Günther Raphael, will be released in 2023.
Dr. Williams served as a Guest Artist and Visiting Assistant Professor of Viola at the Eastman School of Music for the 2022-23 school year, and will be Visiting Lecturer of Viola at the University of Tennesse-Knoxville for the Fall term in 2023. He is the founder of Queens College Viola Day, and has been on the viola faculty of the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, CUNY since 2012. He is on the viola faculty at NYU SummerStrings, and has taught viola and chamber music at the National Music Festival in Chestertown, MD, the Mountain Springs Chamber Music Festival in Draper, Utah. He maintains a private viola and studio both in person and online in the New York metropolitan area.
As a conductor and orchestral coach, Dr. Williams has conducted and coached several student ensembles, including the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra on Long Island, and the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Southampton String Festival, the LIU-Post Summer Music Festival, and the Queens College String Ensemble. He has been a guest conductor for several All-County Orchestra festivals.
Greg Williams received his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Viola Performance at the CUNY Graduate Center, where he studied with Karen Ritscher and Dr. Linda Sinanian. Previously, Dr. Williams studied with Michelle LaCourse at Boston University, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Viola Performance, and with George Taylor at the Eastman School of Music, receiving his Master’s degree in Viola Performance and Literature.
Credentials
The Graduate Center, City University of New York
New York, NY
2018
- Doctorate of Musical Arts in Viola Performance
- Recipient of Enhanced Chancellor’s Fellowship
Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester
Rochester, NY
2008
- Master of Music in Viola Performance and Literature
The Graduate Center, City University of New York
New York, NY
2006
- Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance
Gregory K. Williams 