About Yumi…
Yumi Hwang-Williams, Concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony since 2000, is an American violinist of exceptional musicianship who is recognized both for her stylish performances of the classics and her commitment to the works of present-day composers.
Strings magazine calls her “a modern Prometheus” who has “emerged as a fiery champion of contemporary classical music.” Her interpretations of works by Thomas Adès, Aaron Jay Kernis, Michael Daugherty, and Christopher Rouse have earned critical acclaim as well as enthusiastic approval from the composers.
The performance of Kernis' Lament and Prayer was notable for the outstanding interpretation of the solo violin part by Yumi Hwang-Williams.Indianapolis Star
The violin part of the Rouse Concerto is especially challenging, with more double stops than a Paganini variation. Hwang-Williams' formidable technique made them fleet and sweet, bringing forth a frenzy of appreciation at the conclusion.San Francisco Classical Voice
Yumi has collaborated with the Joffrey Ballet (Chicago) in a world premiere of Bold Moves, with ten performances of Thomas Adès’ Concentric Paths for violin and orchestra choreographed by Ashley Page. The Colorado Symphony presented the world premiere of Rising Phoenix, a concerto written for Yumi by Daniel Kellogg in 2016.
In 2018, PENTATONE label released a 2-disc centennial celebration of Isang Yun’s music performed by Yumi, Dennis Russel Davies, and the Bruckner Orchestra, Linz (Austria), which includes the Violin Concerto No. 1, a solo piece, and a work with piano—a culmination of a decade-long project of Korea’s most controversial composer. Musicweb International posted a review of the album, which you can read here. Recently, Yumi recorded #elijah for Violin and Orchestra with the London Symphony by California composer John Wineglass, which was released in spring 2023.
Yumi is frequently heard as soloist in her capacity as Concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony and occasionally has stepped in as last-minute replacement, as with the Sibelius concerto in 2017 and recently with the Bach double violin concerto featuring Chris Thile on mandolin. She has appeared with other major orchestras both in the U.S. and abroad including the London Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Sinfonieorchester Basel (Switzerland), the Bruckner Orchester, Linz (Austria), and the Brno Philharmonic (Czech Republic) with conductors Marin Alsop, Dennis Russell Davies, Hans Graf, Paavo Järvi, Peter Oundjian, and Markus Stenz, among others.
Prior to joining the Colorado Symphony, she was Principal Second Violin of the Cincinnati Symphony. For 13 summers she served as Concertmaster of the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra with Marin Alsop, and she has performed as Guest Concertmaster for the Singapore Symphony, the Napa Valley Festival Orchestra, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa, at the invitation of Music Director Pinchas Zukerman. She continues to play Guest First Violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, with whom she has a longstanding association.
Yumi began violin studies at the age of 10 in Philadelphia at the Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP), a public music magnet school, one year after emigrating from South Korea. She was a soloist with Philadelphia Orchestra at age 14 and was accepted to the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music the following year, where she received her Bachelor of Music degree. Currently, she is Adjunct Violin Professor at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, and is actively involved in advancing the arts in the community through numerous local concerts, chamber music collaborations, and support of the symphony. In 2021, during the heart of the COVID lockdown, Yumi and world-class mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung co-founded ENSEMBLE CHARITÉ, which donates all proceeds from concerts to partnering charity organizations.
Yumi performs on a violin made by G. B. Guadagnini in Piacenza, Italy, circa 1748.