William Hagen 3_credit Tyler Rye.jpg

William Hagen

William Hagen’s violin rises from the orchestra to ever-loftier heights with a performance that is as passionate as it is poignantly phrased.
— Florida Times-Union
 
  • A “brilliant virtuoso…a standout” (The Dallas Morning News), William Hagen has become a seasoned international violinist who has appeared as a soloist with many of the world's great orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, San Francisco Symphony, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, and many more.

  • Since making his debut with the Utah Symphony at age nine, William Hagen has performed as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician across the United States, Europe, and Asia having worked with some of the world's most celebrated conductors including Marin Alsop, Christian Arming, Placido Domingo, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Michel Tabachnik, and Hugh Wolff.

  • Hagen recently performed with the Sacramento and Savannah Philharmonics, the North Carolina and Omaha Symphonies, and Symphoria, with recitals for the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, and the Colburn School; and released his debut album, “Danse Russe,” with his good friend and frequent collaborator, pianist Albert Cano Smit in 2019.

The riveting American violinist William Hagen has appeared as a soloist with many of the world's great orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, San Francisco Symphony, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, and many more. Already a seasoned international performer who has won friends around the world, William has been hailed as a “brilliant virtuoso…a standout” (The Dallas Morning News) whose playing is “… captivating, floating delicately above the orchestra” (Chicago Classical Review). He was the third-prize winner of the 2015 Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition, one of the highest-ranking Americans ever in the prestigious competition. William performs on the 1732 “Arkwright Lady Rebecca Sylvan” Antonio Stradivari, and on a violin bow by Francois Xavier Tourte, both on generous loan from the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation.

Hagen’s recent performances include appearances with the Detroit Symphony and Utah Symphony, and performances at the Brevard Music Center & Festival and Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Hagen’s 2024-25 season highlights include performances for the Richmond Symphony conducted by Valentina Peleggi, Lubbock Symphony under the direction of David Cho, Bozeman Symphony under the direction of Norman Huynh, and Pasadena Symphony conducted by Brett Mitchell. 

William has performed with conductor Nicolas McGegan both at the Aspen Music Festival and with the Pasadena Symphony, and made his debut with the Oregon Symphony under Carlos Kalmar, performed with the Brussels Chamber Orchestra in Beijing and at the Aspen Music Festival with conductor Ludovic Morlot, and played recitals in Paris, Brussels, and at the Ravinia Festival. Collaborations include those with Steven Isserlis at the Wigmore Hall, with Tabea Zimmermann at the Beethovenhaus in Bonn, with Gidon Kremer, Steven Isserlis, and Christian Tetzlaff in Germany, and in New York City with the Jupiter Chamber Players. 

  • Since his debut with the Utah Symphony at age nine, William has performed with conductors such as Marin Alsop, Christian Arming, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Michel Tabachnik, and Hugh Wolff. A native of Salt Lake City, William first heard the violin when he was 3 and began taking lessons at age 4 with Natalie Reed, followed by Deborah Moench. At age 10, he began studying with Robert Lipsett at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he studied until the age of 17. 

    After studying at the Juilliard School for two years with Itzhak Perlman, William returned to Los Angeles to continue studying with Robert Lipsett at the Colburn Conservatory. He then went on to study at the Kronberg Academy in Germany with Christian Tetzlaff. William is an alumnus of the Verbier Academy in Switzerland, the Perlman Music Program, and the Aspen Music Festival. 

    August  2024 – Please do not edit without permission. 

Videos

 
 

Programs & Repertoire

 
  • Johann Sebastian Bach:
    Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041

    Samuel Barber:
    Violin Concerto, Op. 14

    Béla Bartók:
    Violin Concerto No. 1

    Ludwig van Beethoven:
    Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61

    Johannes Brahms:
    Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77

    Max Bruch:
    Scottish Fantasy in E-flat major, Op. 46
    Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26

    Antonín Dvořák:
    Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53

    Franz Joseph Haydn:
    Violin Concerto in C major, Hob.VIIa:1

    Erich Wolfgang Korngold:
    Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

    Édouard Lalo:
    Symphonie espagnole in D minor, Op. 21

    Felix Mendelssohn:
    Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
    Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat major, K. 364/320d
    Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-flat major, K. 207
    Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K. 211
    Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K. 216
    Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218
    Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219

    Astor Piazzolla:
    Four Seasons of Buenos Aires

    Sergei Prokofiev:
    Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19

    Maurice Ravel:
    Tzigane

    Camille Saint-Saëns:
    Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61
    Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28

    Jean Sibelius:
    Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

    Igor Stravinsky:
    Violin Concerto in D major

    Pyotr Tchaikovsky:
    Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

    Antonio Vivaldi:
    The Four Seasons

    Please consult with MKI Artists if you’re interested in a concerto not included here.

  • 2023-2024

    WITH ORION WEISS, PIANO

    Program I

    Igor Stravinsky: Duo Concertant
    Franz Schubert: Fantasy in C major
    *****
    Robert Schumann: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in D minor, Op. 121

    Program II

    Edward Elgar: Violin Sonata in E minor, Op. 82
    William Walton: Violin Sonata in a minor
    *****
    Robert Schumann: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in D minor, Op. 121

    Program III

    Edward Elgar: Violin Sonata in E minor, Op. 82
    William Walton: Violin Sonata in A minor
    *****
    Ludwig van Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 9, Op. 47, “Kreutzer”

    Program IV

    Béla Bartók: Rhapsody No. 1
    Béla Bartók : Violin Sonata No. 2, Sz. 76
    Antonín Dvorák: Sonatina in G major for violin and piano

    WITH ALBERT CANO-SMIT, PIANO

    Program I

    Fritz Kreisler: Praeludium and Allegro
    Clara Schumann: Three Romances
    Edvard Greig: Sonata No. 3 in C minor
    *****
    Robert Schumann: Sonata No. 3 in A minor
    Louise Farrenc: Variations on a Swiss Melody
    Dora Pejačević: Canzonetta
    Florence Price: Adoration

 

Projects