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Stephen Williamson is a prominent clarinetist and lecturer at the Northwestern Bienen School of Music, where he leads the clarinet studio. He was appointed principal clarinet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Riccardo Muti in 2011 and has previously served as principal clarinetist for the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Williamson is also a regular guest principal clarinetist for the Saito Kinen Festival Orchestra in Japan, a collaboration with conductor Seiji Ozawa. An active soloist and chamber musician, Williamson has performed extensively across the United States, Europe, and Asia, working with renowned artists such as James Levine, Yo-Yo Ma, and Mitsuko Uchida. He has been featured in concerto performances of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and the Pacific Music Festival. Williamson's discography includes recordings with major labels and contributions to film soundtracks, notably with John Williams for the Oscar-nominated score of Lincoln. A Fulbright Scholar, he advanced his studies in Berlin after earning degrees from the Eastman School of Music and The Juilliard School. He has received multiple awards for his musical excellence, including the Eastman Centennial Award and honors from various music competitions.
Northwestern University • Evanston, IL
Teaching and guiding students in clarinet performance and orchestral studies.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra • Chicago, IL
Leading the clarinet section and performing solo works in orchestral settings.
Standard PhD requirements for TGS departments including Chemistry, Physics, and Sociology.