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Biography

John Marcel Williams is an emerging talent in the classical guitar, and establishing a career as both a soloist and chamber musician. Winner of numerous awards, his refined technique and musical artistry has brought him to audiences across the country and abroad.

Recent engagements include appearances for the Chamber Music Society of Virginia, and Princeton University with the Curtis Institute Guitar Quartet, premiering Paul Lansky’s “Four’s Company.” Other highlights include multiple tours of Panama as a guest artist for the Panama Guitar Festival, and solo recitals at Oberlin and Moravian college, as well for the 2019/20 season of the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society. In 2019 John debuted with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra led by Maestro John Devlin, performing Elmer Bernstein’s Guitar Concerto. He has been featured on various radio and TV programs, most notably performing on NPR’s program, “From the Top,” where he was awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. John was also named winner of the 2021 Pittsburgh Concert Society Major Artist Award.

Williams started his collegiate studies with Manuel Barrueco at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in 2011, where he received a Bachelors and Masters in guitar performance. In 2021, he graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia in the Artist Diploma program, under the direction of David Starobin and Grammy award winning artist, Jason Vieaux. Mr. Williams currently resides in Philadelphia where he maintains a private teaching studio, and is a board member of the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society.