Trevor Williams; Violinist & teacher

[Hyfler/Rosner]

From The Times
June 27, 2007

Trevor Williams
Versatile violinist and well-loved teacher
Trevor Williams was a violinist in great demand as a
soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player and teacher.
His playing was characterised by a beautiful tone and
natural musicianship; he also had an instinctive feeling of
ensemble and a helpful attitude which much endeared him to
colleagues and pupils.

He was appointed leader of the BBC Scottish Orchestra in
1963 and soon was invited to be co-leader of the BBC
Symphony Orchestra. He also formed the Haffner String
Quartet and became leader of the Tilford Festival Ensemble
and Orchestra. He was violin professor at the Royal Academy
of Music (1959-63 and 1969-88) and also, for a shorter
period, at the Royal College of Music.

Trevor James Williams was born in Acton, West London, and
educated at Latymer Upper School. Having taken up the violin
as a young boy he was taught by Bhodan Hubicki and became a
junior student at the Royal Academy of Music. When he won a
scholarship to the senior academy he continued his studies
with David Martin. He later received training from the
Russian violinist Sascha Lasserson.

After leaving the academy he was invited to join the Aeolian
String Quartet with Sydney Humphries (violin), Watson Forbes
(viola) and John Moore (cello), who was followed by Derek
Simpson. He played with the Boyd Neel Orchestra, the London
Mozart Players (as co-leader) and the Menuhin Festival
Orchestra and led the London Harpsichord Ensemble.

Williams gave many recitals, including three at the Wigmore
Hall, of which two were with the distinguished accompanist
Gerald Moore. He also broadcast violin and piano recitals
and violin concertos for BBC radio. He managed an extremely
busy schedule for many years.

He was highly skilled in drawing the best from his students
and shared their delight in successes. Thus he passed on his
inheritance from his own teachers as well as the heroes that
had influenced him, the likes of Jascha Heifetz, Nathan
Milstein and Yehudi Menuhin.

Williams enjoyed the informality of holiday music courses;
having begun with the Aeolian Quartet at Downe House he
coached the violins in the National Youth Orchestra of Great
Britain, and quite recently joined friends and musicians at
Broneirion in Llandinam.

In later years he conducted the amateur Tudor Orchestra in
Finchley, broadening their repertoire while introducing
high-calibre soloists.

Williams married the pianist Beryl Woods in 1958. The
marriage was dissolved in 1990. He is survived by their
daughter and three sons.

Trevor Williams, violinist, was born on February 10, 1929.
Having suffered from Parkinson's disease, he died on May 11,
2007, aged 78