RECENT NEWS
(Selected)
2023
APRIL
Walker is named a recipient of the 2023 Sir Georg Solti Foundation US Career Assistance Award winning the prestigious award for a second year in a row.
March
Walker and the Nova Orchester Wien performed at the Wiener Konzerthaus (Mozart-Saal) alongside cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan, who performs Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations. The orchestra also presented Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1, Tailleferre's A Petite Suite, and Walker's very own , "A Confused and Troubled Society," with the composer himself conducting!
Janurary
In the 2023-2024 season Walker will join the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center as the Solti Foundation US resident conductor (Elizabeth Buccheri Residency)!
2022
SEPTEMBER
Walker and the Nova Orchester Wien return to the Vienna Musikverein!
“…the enormous dynamics reach you with concentrated, but nevertheless finely restrained power.” -Klassik Begeisert
The program included Prokofiev Symphony No. 3, Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5 (Alexandra Tirsu Soloist), Charles Ive's’ “Unanswered Question”
JUNE
10.6
Walker is named a recipient of the prestigious 2022 Sir Georg Solti Foundation US Career Assistance Award.
8.6
Walker performs as the the Artistic Director and Conductor of the “Master Camerata Orchestra”- the professional orchestra of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra’s International summer music festival, “Premier Orchestral Institute”.
MAY
18.5
Walker and the Nova Orchester Wien perform again in the Vienna Musikverein!
“The American who lives in Vienna seems to have an irresistible instinct for extended arcs of suspense and great pathos in his blood.” -Klassik Begeisert
The program included Sibelius Symphony No. 2, William Grant Still’s Poem for Orchestra (Austrian Premiere), Jennifer Higdon’s “Machine” (Austrian Premiere), and Korngold's Much ado about nothing (Suite). The concert was in association with the US Embassy in Vienna.
Concert listing: https://www.musikverein.at/konzert/eventid/50191
7.5
Walker is the winner of the Third Prize of the prestigious 2022 Only stage International Conducting Competition.
FEBRUARY
4.2.
Walker joins the Colour of Music Festival Virtuosi in Charleston, South Carolina for a performance of music by Bruch, Vivaldi, Arensky, Chevalier de Saint Georges Bologne, and Coleridge Taylor Perkinson. Soloists included Romuald Grimbert-Barré - Violin, Drew Alexander Forde - Viola, Courtney Jones, and Herbert Smith - Trumpet
2021
DECEMBER
15.12
Walker joins a panel of conductors to discuss life as a professional conductor with students of the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna.
3-4.12
Walker joins the Symphony of the Americas for three concerts. “Symphony of the Americas takes you on a world tour, celebrating the sounds of the season in this new and unique Holiday performance. Come join YOUR Symphony in this new South Florida tradition. Rising star and Guest Conductor, William Garfield Walker, is an emerging young conductor quickly establishing himself on the international stage. He leads Symphony of the Americas, welcoming local favorites North Broward Preparatory School Concert Choir and Florida Singing Sons in a magical experience for all to enjoy. PROGRAM Festive Overture — William Grant Still, Winter in Buenos Aires from Four Seasons — Astor Piazzolla (arr. Leonid Desyatnikov), Sleigh Ride — Frederick Delius, Overture on Hebrew Themes op. 34 — Sergey Prokofiev, Nutcracker Excerpts: Overture, Sugar Plum, Russian Dance, Waltz of the Flowers — P. I. Tchaikovsky, Christmas on Broadway Concert Medley (arr. by John Higgins), El Cielo Canta Alegria — Pablo Sosa (arr. Ed Henderson), Candlelight Carol — John Rutter, What Sweeter Music — John Rutter, Come to the Music Joseph Martin The First Noel — Dan Forrest, Hallelujah Chorus — G. F. Handel”.
OCTOBER
15.10.2021
Walker and the Nova Orchester Wien perform in Vienna’s legendary Musikverein! The program included Mahler Symphony No. 4 (Rebecca Nelsen, Soprano), Shostakovich’s Symphonic tone poem October op. 131 (Austrian premiere), Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain (original version), and Lili Boulanger’s Prelude which Walker orchestrated for orchestra (published by Universal Edition).
Review of the concert:
“….Walker hits the spot in the Adagio. It must have been this intensity that Sergiu Celibidache once spoke of when he said that music is basically nothing but tension and resolution. That is basically where the secret of the Mahler sound lies."- Klassik begeistert
5.10.2021
Walker joins the Symphony of the Americas in its season-opening concert in a performance of Mahler Symphony No. 4 (Rebecca Nelsen, Soprano) and Verdi’s La Forza Del Destino Overture. [canceled]
Walker will conduct the orchestra in three concert performances in early December.
August
Walker attends the Salzburg Festival as a recipient of the AAF Ansbacher/ Farber Fellowship selected by members of the Vienna Philharmonic and the American Austrian Foundation.
July
Walker attends the Salzburg Festival as a recipient of the AAF Ansbacher/ Farber Fellowship selected by members of the Vienna Philharmonic.
Austrian/Romanian pianist Adriana Paler records Walker’s Transcending in the Vienna Konzerthaus as a part of her upcoming solo album.
Walker judges a concerto competition at the Virtuoso & Belcanto Music Festival in Luca, Italy.
Walker attends the Parnu Music Festival where he studies with Paavo Jarvi and Krystian Jarvi.
June
Walker joins the 2021 Puerto Rico Summer Music Festival as a lecturer. https://www.diazdelmoralfoundation.org/lecturers
May
Walker has been selected as a finalist for the “Only Stage Conductors Competition”. Selected out of an international pool of conductors, Walker is the only American conductor that was invited to the final round.
Walker participated in a panel discussion with the Nextus festival on the topic of “creativity and creative thinking”. Other panelists included Bill Barclay, former music director of the Shakespeare Globe Theater, and David Dearest. https://nextus.beyourownmanager.com
April
Walker joined Robert C. Fisher, Dr. Rick Fleming, Adrian Walker, and Edwin Jhamal Davis in Jackson State University zoom panel discussion. All musicians on the panel are natives of Jackson, MS, and have gone on to have successful musical careers with organizations such as the Saint Louis Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, Metropolitan Opera, and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestras.
Walker has been chosen from a pool of more than 300 conductors as a finalist for the inaugural Lanyi Conducting Competition.
March
23.03.2021
An in-depth interview with Jolanta Lada in the Klassik begeistert based in Hamburg! The interview is in German, but English translations can be provided by request. Interview: https://klassik-begeistert.de/interview-mit-william-garfield-walker/#more-26045
Translated excerpt below: "He conducts with great energy and is able to convey this energy to his musicians. This can be seen especially in the footage of concert performances with the Nova Orchester Wien (NOW!), which he founded. William Garfield Walker conducts Piotr Tchaikovsky's works smoothly and with panache, sounding as he fully understands the composer's Slavic soul. Mahler sounds dignified in his interpretation, Bernstein very dynamic. Walker performs the work " Phantom Chapel" by William Grant Still with gentle, circular movements, sometimes with eyes closed, but never losing control of the ensemble…..One gets a great desire to attend one of his concerts and draw some of his energy...."
19.03.2021
Walker is honored to announce that his existing and future compositions will be published by the legendary Viennese music publisher Universal Edition! Other composers published by Universal include Gustav Mahler, Sergei Prokofiev, Pierre Boulez, and Arvo Pärt. Universal Edition is a classical music publishing firm. Founded in 1901 in Vienna, and originally intended to provide the core classical works and educational works to the Austrian market, the firm soon expanded to become one of the most important publishers of modern music.
Walker’s official composer profile can be found at https://www.universaledition.com/william-garfield-walker-7888
2020
December
14.12.2020
Walker and the Nova Orchester Wien are featured on the Radioklassik Stephansdom Advent Calendar in support of the Vienna children’s Hospital.
https://radioklassik.at/menschlichkeit/#adventcalendar-dialog-14
November
Walker joins Arabella Fenyves on Radioklassik Stephansdom for an hour to talk about his work as a conductor, his work with the Nova Orchester Wien, and great American and Russian composers.
October
Nova Orchester Wien live broadcast to Italy in collaboration with the Austrian Consulate in Italy for Austria’s National Day. The Nova Orchester Wien and Walker performed Prokofiev Symphony No. 5, William Grant Still’s Phantom Chapel (European Premiere), Beethoven Symphony No. 7 [II], and Collatti’s “East-West Sketches”.
Walker named musician of the week by Hello Stage and Bernhard Kerres (former CEO, Artistic Director of the Vienna Konzerthaus)
Walker and the Nova Orchester Wien tour Italy! (Bolsano Konzaerthaus, Merano Kurhaus) [Postponed due to COVID-19]
August
25.8.2020
Walker will join the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra for a virtual event. “As part of the MSO’s 75th Anniversary Celebration, William returned in March to join the MSO as guest conductor in a performance of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, at what turned out to be the very last performance the orchestra held prior to the Covid Crisis. William will share the fascinating story of his ongoing journey through music.” Click HERE to join.
July
Walker returns to the podium in his first performance since the COVID-19 outbreak leading the Nova Orchester Wien (NOW!) in a performance for the 2020 G20 economic forum. “East Meets West Digital Concert”: Royalty and diplomats attended the concert and the performance was viewed by countless more around the globe in a live broadcast. This performance included the first orchestral performance of the music of Florence Price in Austria and the world premiere of “East-West Sketches” by the well-known Vienna Based Syrian-Argentinian composer Diego Marcello Collatti.
Walker has been selected by the American Austrian Foundation and members of the Vienna Philharmonic for this year’s AAF Farber Conducting Fellowship (formerly known as the Herbert von Karajan Conducting Fellowship)! This fellowship provides promising young conductors from the United States the opportunity to spend four weeks at the Salzburg Festival observing the world’s leading conductors and artists at work during rehearsals and performances. The Salzburg Festival (“Salzburger Festspiele”), founded in August 1920 by Max Reinhard and Hugo von Hofmannsthal, is the benchmark for all festivals worldwide and each year unique opera and concert productions bring together the world’s finest singers, conductors, and musicians. This program is organized by The American Austrian Foundation with support from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, The Salzburg Music Festival, and the Young Friends of the Salzburg Music Festival. Funding is provided by AAF Treasurer and Trustee Karl Heinz Faber. Due to COVID-19, the Salzburg Festival will not permit residence at the festival so Walker will receive a cash grant.
June
The 4th Smoky Mountain International Conducting Institute where Walker is a co-founder has been canceled due to COVID-19.
Walker’s inaugural season as Artistic Director and conductor of the Master Camerata at the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra’s summer music festival has been canceled due to COVID-19.
March
A Resolution “Commending the Musical Genius of Mr. William Garfield Walker and congratulating him as an accomplished Orchestral Conductor” was passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives in a unanimous bipartisan vote. A similar proclamation was passed by the Mississippi Senate.
Walker had a successful return visit to the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra in a concert that had been SOLD OUT for weeks in advance.
Walker was to join Maestro Michail Jurowski at the Bavarian State Opera for rehearsals and performances of Boris Godunov. (cancelled due to COVID-19).
2019
November
Walker was named “Artist of the month” by Talent Unlimited UK.
October
Walker gave a speech on the topic of “professionalism in the music industry” with talented prizewinners and scholarship recipients of the Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music, and Guildhall School of Music at the Talent Unlimited UK “Induction Day”.
Walker gave the South-Russia premiere of Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 3 at the Astrakhan State Opera and Ballet Theater to a SOLD OUT audience.
September
Walker performed at the Vienna Musikverein with the Moonlight Symphony Orchestra.