Lunchtime Recital - William Lui, cello

Programme

Paul Hindemith - Sonata for Solo Cello op.25 no.3 I. Lebhaft, sehr markiert II. Mäßig schnell, Gemächlich III. Langsam IV. Lebhafte Viertel V. Mäßig schnell J.S Bach - Cello Suite no.3 in C Major BWV 1009 I. Prelude II. Allemande III. Courante IV. Sarabande V. Bourrée I - Bourrée II VI. Gigue

Biographies

Hong Kong–born cellist William Lui is an emerging force on the international music scene, dividing his time between Hong Kong, London, and Shanghai. A Foyle Future First of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, he has been recognised with some of the UK’s most distinguished honours, including the Countess of Munster Musical Trust Award, the Leverhulme Trust Arts Grant, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Full Scholarship Award. William is also the director of Chamber Music at Fidelio CIO, and has received personal recommendation from Dr. Raffaello Morales for his contributions to the Fidelio Charitable Trust.

Growing up in Shanghai, William studied with Professor Huang Bei Xing and the late Patrick Sabberton, to whom he attributes much of his early musical development. He received his undergraduate degree with First-Class Honours from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied with Professor Timothy Lowe, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at Guildhall with Professor Louise Hopkins. He has performed in masterclasses with internationally renowned cellists including Franz Helmerson, Jonathan Aasgaard, Adrian Brendel, Rebecca Gilliver, Kristina Blaumane, Maximilian Hornung, and Steven Doane.

William has performed with distinguished musicians such as Mihaela Martin, Ralf Gothóni, Levon Chilingirian, Sarah-Jane Bradley, Lucas Debargue, Stephen Gutman, and Simon Parkin. A passionate advocate for new music, he frequently collaborates with contemporary composers and has premiered works by Antoine Veillerett, Hykang Dang, Luka Venter, Elif Nur Karlıdağ, Jotham Ben-Yami, Sam Meredith, and Erland Cooper. Furthermore, William involves himself regularly with contemporary music ensembles including the UBU, and Madsong Ensembles.

He has been invited to perform at major festivals and masterclasses including the Echo Arts Ensemble Munich Festival and Masterclass, the Guildhall Chamber Festival, London Masterclasses, the Bloomsbury Festival, the Santander International Encounter of Music and Academy, the International Summer Academy (ISA) of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, and the Viaggio in Italia Festival sponsored by the Bizzi Foundation.

William was selected as a 2025/2026 London Philharmonic Orchestra Foyle Future First and regularly performs with the orchestra under conductors Edward Gardner, Karina Canellakis, and Vladimir Jurowski. He was also awarded an Honourable Mention in the Musicus Society Artists Award and performs regularly with the Musicus Society in Hong Kong and internationally. William is also a supported by the Talent Unlimited Charity. His regular chamber music collaborators include William Bracken, Tiago Silva, Jeremy Chan, Kwanyee Chan, Kosuke Shirai, Lucy Barratt, Jack Gonzales-Harding, and Bogdan Skrypka.

As an educator, William serves as a Graduate Assistant at the Guildhall Young Artists King’s Cross Centre. He has also taught on courses such as the Cambridge Camerata Academy and the International Cello Gathering, working under the guidance of Sue Lowe.

William is the Artistic Director of Chamber Music at Fidelio CIO, a concert series based at the renowned Fidelio Café in Farringdon, London. From this venue, he programmes and performs in a wide range of chamber concerts each year, building a dedicated audience through distinctive and imaginative programming. Recent highlights include Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time, George Crumb’s Vox Balaenae, and Claude Bolling’s Suite for Cello and Jazz Trio. Deeply committed to community engagement, William also brings chamber music to community centres across London. He was awarded the title of Community Champion by St Luke’s Community Centre, where he organises fundraising concerts in support of local improvement projects, such as fundraising for the St Luke’s Community Shop.

William performs on a fine cello made by J.B. Vuillaume, generously on loan from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Presented in association with Talent Unlimited.