Kayla Williams at Kọ Cafe - Live Music Monthly

We're here for another month of live music Third Thursdays at Kọ Cafe! This month will feature violist Kayla Williams. This year so far has been a great vibe getting to know everyone in our community and can't wait to see you again on the 18th! The Cafe opens at 7 and this one-hour set will start at 7:30. Get on over to Ko Cafe and see the magic of chamber music and community.

🍷 Wine will be provided. Coffee, cafe drinks, and pastries will be available for purchase.

💸 100% of audience contributions go to the performers.

Join us and let's celebrate the joy of chamber music together!

☕️ Beverages and refreshments are available for purchase. (The coffee is divine)

🎻 Violist Kayla Williams is an advocate for diversifying music through her own experiences as a Black woman. Originally from Florida, Williams began playing the violin at age four then at age ten she discovered her true passion, the viola. As a winner of the 2018 Lynn Concerto Competition, she made her concerto debut performing Bartok’s Viola Concerto. Williams has been the guest of music festivals across a range of music including the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Florida Folk Festival, and the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival. Williams has both live and recorded performances with Grammy Award-winner Jon Batiste. As a recitalist, Williams has performed in concert series around the country, including the Island Concert Association February Festival in St. Simons Island, GA, the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Guest Artist Music Series. Williams earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Viola Performance from the Lynn Conservatory of Music in Boca Raton, FL and a Master of Music degree in Viola Performance from The Juilliard School in New York City. She is also the recipient of the 2021-2023 Juilliard Career Advancement Fellowship.

🎻 Cameren Anai Williams is a violist from West Palm Beach, FL. Williams loves to collaborate with other artists and explore different avenues within the classical industry. Some of her most fruitful musical experiences have been performing under maestro David Robertson leading The Juilliard Orchestra and the Juilliard Jazz collaboration at Carnegie Hall, playing in Juilliard’s historical performance orchestra, J415, collaborating with drama students for Juillird’s MLK Celebration, working with Nathalie Joachim and Chanel Da Silva on the live album performance of Nathalie’s Ki moun ou ye, and performing the world premiere of Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse Live in Concert with the Broadway Sinfonietta and maestra Deanna Tham.

Williams had her solo debut at Carnegie Hall at the age of 13 as a winner of the American Protege Competition playing J.C. Bach’s Concerto in c minor. Williams was also a founding member of The Marian String Quartet. The group, formed in 2021, was a part of Juilliard’s Honors Chamber Music Program for two years and won the 2022 St. Paul String Quartet Competition. Williams continues to make her mark in the chamber music world by playing with ensembles such as the Catalyst Quartet, Ivalas Quartet, Brentano Quartet, and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

Cameren’s foundation, CamAnai Strings, repairs instruments for students who have the talent but lack the financial resources to purchase an instrument in the South Florida area. Williams has participated in programs from California to Cremona, Italy studying the art of being a luthier. The most recent project of CamAnai Strings was the children’s book, Kinderlute: A Young Musician's Guide to Taking Care of String Instruments, now available on Amazon and in the Juilliard Store in six languages. This project wouldn’t have been possible without the generous help of the Sphinx Organization’s MPower Grants.

She currently plays on a 16 1⁄2 viola made by Japanese luthier Hiroshi Iizuka. Mr. Iizuka made this viola in 1980 paying homage to his oldest daughter, Kinu Inge. Her bow, made by Bernard Millant, is on loan from The Juilliard School.

What's the music?

Kayla Williams Viola

Attendees

Tanya M.

Fredelyne A.

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Solomon R.

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Candace B.

Randal C.

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John A.

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Jacalyn C.