Since becoming the Piano Winner of BBC Young Musician 2006, Cordelia Williams has continued to build an international career as ‘one of the outstanding pianists of her generation’. She has given recital and concerto performances throughout Great Britain, as well as in France, Italy, Thailand, China, Kenya and the Gulf States, and always likes to introduce the music to her audience. During the summer of 2011 she was awarded 1st prize at the Concours International de Piano in Aix-en-Provence and 2nd prize at the Dudley International Piano Competition. She has also recently become a Steinway Artist.

Solo performance highlights for Cordelia have included a Wigmore Hall debut, as well as concerto appearances with orchestras including the CBSO, City of London Sinfonia and The Northern Sinfonia (first with conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier and subsequently with Thomas Zehetmair). The 2010-11 season has included her debut recitals at the Royal Festival Hall and the Barbican Hall in London, and Beijing Concert Hall, China. Forthcoming plans include a concerto appearance with the London Mozart Players, a recital at the Purcell Room, performances in Salzburg, Paris and Nairobi, and a return trip to Thailand.

Cordelia is a passionate chamber musician – in May 2008 she appeared with the Endellion String Quartet and has since performed with the Fitzwilliam String Quartet and members of the London Mozart Players. This year she will appear with the Maggini Quartet and works regularly with fellow pianist Tom Poster and baritone Ashley Riches.

Alongside her performing career, Cordelia runs Cafe Muse, an innovative series of events bringing classical music out of the concert hall and into the relaxed setting of London bars and brasseries. She hopes to attract a new audience to classical music, especially people of her own generation.

Hearing her mother teach piano, Cordelia wanted to learn to play too, and began lessons at home as soon as she could climb onto the piano stool. She gave her first public piano recital to celebrate her eighth birthday. Cordelia spent seven years at Chethams School of Music in Manchester, studying with Bernard Roberts. She went on to read Theology at Clare College, Cambridge, while also having piano lessons with Hamish Milne in London. She graduated with a First in 2009 and then studied as a postgraduate with Joan Havill at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she is now a Fellow.