William Hobbs, Piano

Biography

Born
in Austin, Texas, pianist William Hobbs
received his Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from the University of
Colorado at Boulder, and a Master of Music in Piano Performance, Research and
Literature from the Eastman School of Music.

Mr.
Hobbs has worked at many of the world's major opera houses in repertoire ranging
from Handel to the European avant-garde.  He has assisted conductors Claudio Abbado, Sir Charles Mackerras,
Sir Andrew Davis, James Conlon, Robert Spano, Richard Bonynge, Donald
Runnicles, and many others. He has worked closely with singers such as Renee
Fleming, Susan Graham, Karita Mattila, Lauren Flanigan, Olga Borodina,
Frederica von Stade, Sonia Ganassi, Roberto Alagna, Frank Lopardo, Paul Groves,
Placido Domingo, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Sam Ramey and Kurt Moll.

Mr.
Hobbs devotes a large part of his time to work with young singers. He is a
Senior Coach of the Aspen Opera Theatre Center, and serves on the coaching
staff of the Juilliard Opera Center.  He
has been invited to perform with the Gulbenkian Foundation Orchestra in Lisbon,
Portugal in a series of concerts as pianist and harpsichordist. 

He
is currently working in Chicago as Assistant Conductor under Sir Andrew Davis
for Lyric Opera's production of Der Ring
des Niebelungen. He will also be involved with the Seattle Opera's
production of The Ring this summer,
followed by his debut as conductor with the Aspen Music Festival.