The accolades keep rolling in for talented pianist Paul Williamson.
The 21-year-old Mission native has won his second national piano competition, this time placing first in Baltimore at the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association on March 21.
“It was a really positive experience,” he said. “I’ve had a little bit of experience competing now. It was a little easier knowing what to expect and what the schedule was going to look like.”
He said he made sure he was well prepared before heading to Baltimore so he could relax and enjoy the experience.
The University of Manitoba student has a long list of accomplishments in his short career, but counts the experience in Baltimore as one of his greatest yet. He also described it as an awesome opportunity to meet and network with other pianists and people in the industry.
“I got to talk with some people afterwards, made some good connections,” he said.
Now, he has his eyes sight on even greater heights: completing his masters at an Ivy League school such as Yale or the Juilliard School in Manhattan.
He will be returning to Mission in May, and will play two concerts in Abbotsford. He’s hoping it will be a positive homecoming as he plays in front of family and friends.
“It’ll be really great to come back home and play for everyone and see people I haven’t seen for a while.”
You can catch Williamson play on Friday, May 5 at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium as part of the Valley Concert Society’s 2017 series.
He then plays a concert for the Fraser Valley Symphony on Sunday, June 11.