Todd Williams is a leading exponent of the Natural Horn in America. An active performer and educator based in Philadelphia, he serves as Principal Horn of numerous ensembles across the country including the Handel + Haydn Society, Boston Baroque, Philharmonia Baroque (San Fransisco), Apollo’s Fire (Cleveland), Mercury (Houston), Opéra Lafayette (Washington, D.C.), Tempesta di Mare (Philadelphia), and has appeared as guest principal with such ensembles as Tafelmusik (Toronto), The English Concert (London), and the Chamber Players of the Smithsonian Institute. He was a judge for the inaugural ‘Natural Horn Competition’ sponsored by the International Horn Society held in Ghent, Belgium and is on faculty at The Juilliard School in New York. Equally comfortable on the valve horn, he regularly performs with the Philadelphia Orchestra and is Associate Principal Horn of the Philadelphia Ballet. His extensive recording credits include such labels as Deutsche Grammophon, RCA/Sony, Chaconne/Chandos, CPO, Naxos, Avie, Musica Omnia, Friends of the Smithsonian, Warner Brothers, Paramount, and Apple TV. Todd is a graduate of Indiana University.
Todd Williams
Since I was a kid I knew I wanted to play the Horn. I also knew that I needed to study it at Indiana University. This shaped my professional path profoundly, from being exposed to Historically Informed Performance (HIP) practices, to teaching at The Juilliard School, to moving to Philadelphia post graduation because my teacher also taught at the Curtis Institue of Music, to meeting my wife on a train platform in Paris on the way to perform at an opera festival off the coast of Brittany.
Horn
InstrumentPhilly’s my home. Boston’s my home away from home. But Paris always has my heart. Also, I was born in Belgium. But my parents are from the Midwest, yet I grew up in the south… however Philly is the longest place I’ve ever lived (going on 20+ years), so you be the judge.
HometownFavorite Genre:
Too many to choose… I love Classical, Baroque, Romanticism, Impressionism, Jazz, Bluegrass, some cross-over genres like the Goat Rodeo Sessions, etc.
Underrated Composer:
Gossec
Philly Must-Have:
The food scene in Philly is the BEST!
Guilty Pleasure:
Listening to the Goat Rodeo Sessions. Fragrances. And a good Italian hoagie. (Not necessarily in that order)
Secret Talent:
I love to cook! And to sing! And I’m pretty good at impressions.
Todd Williams
Bio
Beyond the Pops
I’m a serious wine enthusiast. Aside from starting my own various wine clubs, during the pandemic, I considered becoming a certified sommelier.
