Included in CBC Music’s 2017 edition of “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30,” Paul Williamson is quickly establishing himself as one of Canada’s promising young pianists. He received first prize at both the 2014 Canadian National Music Festival and the 2017 Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association National Piano Competition in addition to three semifinal awards (for the best performances of Canadian, Chopin, and Baroque compositions). He is also a prizewinner of the 2020 WMC McLellan Competition and the 2022 Shean Piano Competition. As a soloist, he has appeared with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra, and the Fraser Valley Symphony Orchestra.

In recital, Williamson has been featured by the Valley Concert Society, the Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg, Virtuosi Recital Series, GroundSwell, the Hornby Festival, Colburn at the Steinway Gallery, Café Classico Series, and the Agassiz Festival. He has performed in masterclasses for such distinguished artists as Eliso Virsaladze, Yefim Bronfman, Paul Lewis, Veda Kaplinsky, and others. He has participated in the Morningside Music Bridge International Music Festival, the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Orford Academy program, the Scotia Festival of Music, and the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival.

Williamson holds degrees from the University of Manitoba (BM) and the Colburn School (MM), where he is currently continuing in the Artist Diploma program, studying under Fabio Bidini. Williamson’s other musical influences include David Moroz and Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

An advocate of new music, Williamson is a regular member of the Colburn Contemporary Ensemble, most recently performing alongside Andy Akiho. Williamson also participated in Creative Dialogue XIII where he studied with Magnus Lindberg, Joonas Ahonen, and Anssi Karttunen. As part of the Zyra Trio, Williamson has held residency at the Avaloch Farm Music Institute, workshopping the music of Joan Tower.

A dedicated teacher himself, during his time at Colburn, Williamson has been part of the Jumpstart Young Musicians Program—an initiative which provides free music lessons for underprivileged youth. In the 2022 winter term, Williamson took a break from his studies to serve on the faculty of the University of Manitoba, teaching as a piano instructor. Williamson is grateful for the support of the BC Arts Council.