Young violinist William Hagen returns to Utah for concert

Young violinist William Hagen returns to Utah for concert

(Richard Busath/Busath Photography)


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SALT LAKE CITY — Whether through voices or instruments, the talent that comes from performers from Utah cannot be denied. One of the younger talents from the state is 22-year-old violinist William Hagen.

Hagen has been playing the violin for 18 years. He remembers, “I first heard the violin at church when I was 3, and I immediately started begging my parents for a violin. I got a violin when I was 4 and I've been playing ever since.”

Throughout the years Hagen has been able to study at prestigious music schools in the United States, but he started his career here.

“My first violin teacher was Natalie Reed. She taught me for a few months, but she didn't usually teach beginners, so she suggested that I take lessons with Deborah Moench, who is a legendary teacher here in Utah," he said. "Even though I took lessons from Natalie Reed for only a few months as a tiny kid, I would always play for her when I came home to Salt Lake. We were very close.”

At age 10, he started traveling to Los Angeles to study at the Colburn School with Robert Lipsett.

“After studying with Mr. Lipsett for seven years, I went to study with Itzhak Perlman at the Juilliard School," Hagen said. "I studied with him for two years and then came back to Los Angeles to study with Mr. Lipsett again at the Colburn Conservatory, which is where I currently am.”

In 2010, at age 17 and as a junior at East High, he played with the Utah Symphony during its masterworks series. He had shared the stage with the symphony previously, as early as age nine.

With his career as a violinist growing, Hagen is excited to be playing once again in Utah. When his first teacher, Reed, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, he participated in a performance for her.

“We did an amazing benefit concert with a lot of great performers at Libby Gardner (Concert Hall) to help raise funds for her treatment, and I played at that concert, but I haven't done anything at the U since," Hagen said. "I’m really excited to finally do another big concert in Salt Lake.”

When asked why he plays, Hagen said: “I play the violin because I absolutely love it. I have had a really powerful and special connection with music since as long as I or anyone else who knows me can remember.”

His concert will be held April 28 at Libby Gardner Concert Hall at the University of Utah, where he will play works from Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Paganini, Saint-Saëns, Schubert, and Ysaÿe. More information can be found at his event page, William Hagen in Recital.


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About the Author: Jessica Kaing -------------------------------

Jessica Kaing is a student at the University of Utah and a social media intern for ksl.com. Email her at socialintern@deseretdigital.com.

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