William Hagen

The riveting American violinist William Hagen has appeared as a soloist with many of the world's great orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, San Francisco Symphony, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, and many more. Already a seasoned international performer who has won friends around the world, William has been hailed as a “brilliant virtuoso…a standout” (The Dallas Morning News) whose playing is “… captivating, floating delicately above the orchestra” (Chicago Classical Review). He was the third-prize winner of the 2015 Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition, one of the highest-ranking Americans ever in the prestigious competition. William performs on the 1732 “Arkwright Lady Rebecca Sylvan” Antonio Stradivari, and on a violin bow by François Xavier Tourte, both on generous loan from the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation.

Hagen’s recent performances include appearances with the Detroit Symphony and Utah Symphony, and performances at the Brevard Music Center & Festival and Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Hagen’s 2025-26 season highlights include performances with the Harrisburg Symphony, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Iowa, and the Rotterdam Philharmonic.

William has performed with conductor Nicholas McGegan both at the Aspen Music Festival and with the Pasadena Symphony, and made his debut with the Oregon Symphony under Carlos Kalmar, performed with the Brussels Chamber Orchestra in Beijing and at the Aspen Music Festival with conductor Ludovic Morlot, and played recitals in Paris, Brussels, and at the Ravinia Festival. Collaborations include those with Steven Isserlis at the Wigmore Hall, with Tabea Zimmermann at the Beethovenhaus in Bonn, with Gidon Kremer, Steven Isserlis, and Christian Tetzlaff in Germany, and in New York City with the Jupiter Chamber Players.