Marguerite Lynn Williams Harpist Marguerite Lynn Williams has performed throughout the United States, Europe and Asia as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra member. Ms. Williams has been awarded prizes in numerous competitions including the American Harp Society National Competition, the National Endowment of the Arts Artist Recognition Talent Search, the National Federation of Music Clubs, the American Opera Society, Sigma Alpha Iota and two-time award winner of the Anne Adams Award.
**Among other solo engagements, Marguerite Williams has been featured as soloist with the International Chamber Artists, New World Symphony, Handel Society, Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, Roosevelt University Chamber Orchestra; has premiered numerous compositions including Augusta Read Thomas' ...The Soul is Light...; and is under high demand for her performances of contemporary music including Berio's Circles for voice, harp and two percussionists. Recent performances have included collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, Renee Fleming, Maxim Vengerov, Kanye West and appearances as royal entertainment for H.I.H. Princess Thi-Nga of Vietnam.
**An experienced orchestra musician, Ms. Williams has appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Toronto Symphony and San Diego Symphony. She is currently substitute Principal Harp for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (2008-2009 season), as well as Principal Harp of the Colorado Music Festival (Boulder, CO). She was previously Principal Harpist of the New World Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, New Philharmonic Orchestra (Glyn Ellen, IL), and DuPage Opera Orchestra. Ms. Williams is a founding member of the International Chamber Artists, Project Copernicus and Fifth House ensembles.
**Marguerite Lynn Williams attended the Eastman School of Music where she received both a Bachelor of Music degree and Performer's Certificate studying with Kathleen Bride. She then attended Roosevelt University to study with Sarah Bullen, where she received a Master's Degree in Orchestral Studies. Previously on faculty at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami from 2006 until 2008, Ms. Williams maintains a small private harp studio in Chicago.
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Charith Premawardhana is a San Francisco based classically trained viola player, specializing in chamber music performance from the classical era to contemporary music and improvised styles.
Charith has performed in many diverse Bay Area venues including Amnesia, ArtHouse CA, Asian Art Museum, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Bluesix, Bollyhood Cafe, Bruno's, Cafe du Nord, Caffe Divino, Clarion Alley, CNMAT, Community Music Center, Crowden Music Center, Dance Mission Theater, DeYoung Museum, Dolores Park, Eagle's Drift Inn, goforaloop Gallery, Great American Music Hall, Hemlock Tavern, Herbst Theater, JCCSF, Julia Morgan Theater, Kaleidoscope, Laughing Lotus Yoga Studio, Legion of Honor, L's Cafe. MakeOut Room, O
ld First Church, Palace of Fine Arts, Phil'z Coffee, Red Devil Lounge, Red Poppy Art House, Revolution Cafe, SF Ferry Building, 16th and Mission Open Mic, SFMoMA, Socha Cafe, Space Gallery, Sports Basement, Stern Grove Park, Stork Club, Swedish American Hall, 12 Galaxies, and Zellerbach Hall.
Charith is founder of Classical Revolution, a collective made up of young outstanding musicians who've been playing chamber music to packed houses every Sunday night at Revolution Cafe in the Mission District since October 2006.
Charith currently plays with the Magik*Magik Orchestra, Shotgun Wedding Hip Hop Symphony, the Yes! Yes! Ensemble, Foma, and Classical Revolution. Recent recording work includes The Mars Volta's Bedlam in Goliath (2008), Vanessa Carlton's Heroes and Thieves (2007), Madeleine Peyroux's Half the Perfect World (2006), SF filmmaker Nara Denning's Madelein the Small, Oakland band P.A.F., New York multi instrumentalist Dub Gabriel, and Foma's Inverness (2009).
