Violinist Anna Marie Williams has been described as “truly amazing”, and "sending a tingling sensation up my spine” (Fanfare Magazine) and "a glowing presence" (Boston Globe). A passionate soloist and chamber musician, Ms. Williams’ performances have often been cited among the "Best of the Year" by publications including The New York Times, BBC Radio 3. The Boston Musical Intelligencer has described her performances as “enthusiastic and artful”, displaying “energy and elegance” and the Wall Street Journal has called them "beautifully shaped".
Ms. Williams has performed as featured soloist and recitalist in some of the finest concert halls across North and South America, the UK and Europe. Recent solo engagements include appearances at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, The Boston Opera House, New York City’s WMP Hall, “Laguna Beach Live!”, Black Heath Halls (UK) and Samoilov Museum (Russia). Recent solo engagements with orchestra include appearances with the Brown University Orchestra, the Fall River Symphony, the California Chamber Orchestra, the Rhode Island Youth Philharmonic, the San Diego State University Symphony Orchestra, the Antigua Symphony Orchestra (Guatemala) and the New England String Ensemble, among others. Ms. Williams has had the privilege of both premiering and recording solo works written expressly for her, including “She Moves With The Music: A Violin Concerto” by Panamanian composer, Jorge Bennett as well as “Fields of Gold for Violin and Piano” by American composer, Lisa Heffter.
A first-place winner of the Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Prize, Ms. Williams is a founding member of the critically acclaimed Neave Trio. Described as “a revelation” (San Diego News), “a brilliant trio” (Music-Web International) “ a consummate ensemble” (Palm Beach Daily News) and recognized for both their “bright and radiant music-making” (WQXR Radio) as well as “having exceeded the Gold Standard and moved on to Platinum” (Fanfare Magazine), the Neave Trio enjoys concert and recording success across the United States and abroad, performing on some of the finest chamber music series. Recent notable appearances include performances at Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival in David Geffen Hall, Carnegie Hall/Weill Recital Hall, the 92nd Street Y, the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center/La Jolla, Music at Kohl Mansion, Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music, the Kalliroscope Gallery Chamber Music Series, the La Jolla Atheneaum and the Chamber Music Society of Utica, Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, among others. Recent live radio broadcasts include those on WGBH, WQXR, KUCO, WFMT , WXXI and WCNY radio stations, as well as stations abroad, most recently featured on BBC3 radio in London as well as Berlin and Latvian public radio.
The Neave Trio is signed to the prestigious Chandos Record Label in England and their discography continues to expand. Beginning In November of 2016, the Neave Trio released their first album for Chandos, American Moments. This successful album lead to the Trio's second album for the Chandos label, French Moments, which features works by Faure, Roussel and Debussy and was met with much critical acclaim in June of 2018. In October of 2018, the Trio released Celebrating Piazzolla on the Grammy - winning Azica Record Label, featuring works by Astor Piazzolla, including new arrangements of Piazzolla’s songs for piano trio and mezzo-soprano. The Trio's fourth album, Her Voice was released in the Fall of 2019, again for the Chandos Label, and features works by all women composers; Farrenc, Beach and Clarke.
Neave Trio's recordings have widely been met with critical acclaim, and have been honored to appear on on many "Critics Pick" and "Best of the Year" Lists. Most recently, Her Voice was named one of "The Best of 2019" by he New York Times and BBC3 Radio. Other recent recordings have been met with similar enthusiasm and have been placed on Best of the Year Lists (Boston Musical Intelligencer “Best of 2016”, Music-Web International’s “Recording of the Month”, Dean Villa Frey of Canada “Best of 2016,” and Fanfare Magazine’s “2014 Want List”). The Trio's discography continues to expand and they will record their next album , featuring works by Ravel, Brahms and Rachmaninov in 2021.
Currently Alumni Artists, Faculty Ensemble-in-Residence at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, Neave Trio has been honored to hold numerous residencies including multiple residencies at Brown University, the Banff Center, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, the Gann Academy, Concord Academy, Providence College and San Diego State University, among others.
A true believer in the importance and vitality of collaboration, Ms Williams, as co-founder of the Neave Trio, has sought out and curated collaborations across many mediums, including those with dancers, choreographers, filmmakers, and visual artists. Recent collaborations include projects with choreographer Richard Colton and the MIT School of Architectural Design, The Massachusetts College of Art, filmmaker Amanda Alvarez, projection artist Ryan Brady and Blythe Barton Dance,
The recipient of the Joseph Fisch/Joyce Axelrod Award, Ms. Williams holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music (BM), the Longy School of Music of Bard College (MM, GPD) and San Diego State University (Artist Diploma). Ms. Williams is a graduate of the Walnut Hill School/New England Conservatory joint program. Festival appearances have included Yellow Barn, National Arts Centre (under director, Pinchas Zukerman), the Banff International Centre (Canada), Bowdoin International Chamber Music Festival, Niagara on the Lake, and the Halcyon Chamber Music Festival, among others.
Ms. Williams is a passionate teacher, having served as Teaching Assistant to the world-renowned pedagogue, Patinka Kopec at the Manhattan School of Music (Pre-College). She has also served on the faculties of San Diego State University, The Castleman Quartet Program, Bard Conservatory (Pre-College) the ArtsAhimsa Festival and the Winsor School. Her students have been accepted, with scholarships, to premiere conservatories, schools of music and universities, including the New England Conservatory of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, Boston University, Northwestern University, and the Longy School of Music of Bard College, among others.
Ms. Williams currently serves on the violin and chamber music faculties of the Longy School of Music of Bard College.