TODD WILLIAMS

HORN

A preeminent exponent of the Natural Horn in America, Todd Williams is an active performer and educator based in Philadelphia. In high demand, he currently serves as Principal Horn of numerous ensembles across the country including the Handel + Haydn Society, Boston Baroque, Philharmonia Baroque, Trinity Baroque, Apollo’s Fire, Mercury Chamber Orchestra, Opera Lafayette, Tempesta di Mare, and more.

He’s appeared as guest Principal with The English Concert (London), Tafelmusik (Toronto), American Bach Soloists (San Francisco), Bach Collegium San Diego, Musica Angelica (Los Angeles), and Pacific MusicWorks (Seattle). Prominent solo and chamber engagements on the Natural Horn include performances with the Smithsonian Chamber Players, the Boston Early Music Festival, the Aston Magna Festival, and the Connecticut Early Music Festival, to name a few. On the topic of the Natural Horn, he has conducted lectures and master classes at the music schools of Curtis, Eastman, and Oberlin and in 2018, joined the faculty of The Juilliard School.

Equally comfortable on the modern valve horn, he is a staple of the Philadelphia music scene regularly performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chamber and Opera Orchestras, the Philly Pops, and the Philadelphia Ballet where he is currently Acting Principal. Prominent music festivals in which he has performed on the modern horn include appearances at the International Music Festivals of Edinburgh, Lucerne, Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg, and Paris.

Bridging the gap of the period and modern instrument worlds, Todd has had the distinct privilege of performing under the baton of many notable conductors including Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Sir Simon Rattle, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Gianandrea Noseda, Christoph Eschenbach, Lorin Maazel, Marin Alsop, Joshua Bell, John Williams, Harry Bicket, Harry Christophers, Richard Egarr, Nicholas McGegan, Masaaki Suzuki, Jonathan Cohen, Kristian Bezuidenhout, Václav Luks, Bernard Labadie, David Stern, and others.

He’s recorded for Deutsche Grammophon, RCA/Sony Records, Smithsonian/FoM, CPO, Atlantic Records, CORO, Naxos, Musica Omnia, Chaconne/Chandos, NASCAR/Paramount, Warner Brothers, and Apple TV. Todd is a graduate of Indiana University.