William Newell enjoys a wide-ranging career centred around chamber music. 

As second violin of the Solem Quartet since 2017, one of the most innovative ensembles of its generation, William performs regularly on concert platforms across the UK and internationally including London's Wigmore Hall and Amsterdam's Muziekgebouw, as well as more eclectic venues from cinemas to nightclubs and bars. The Quartet’s work has been recently recognised with awards from Jerwood Arts and The Royal Philharmonic Society; their most recent disc, Painted Light (Delphian Records, 2023) received 5 stars from BBC Music Magazine and was described by Europadisc as "compelling listening for all lovers of the string quartet genre". Their debut disc, The Four Quarters (Orchid Classics, 2021), features several of William’s own arrangements described as ‘expressive and stylish’.  

William is Principal second violin of Manchester Camerata, hailed by The Times as “Britain’s most adventurous orchestra”. Recent highlights have included recording Vivaldi's Four Seasons with Daniel Pioro, performing alongside Camerata principals as soloist in Tippett's Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli, and recording Mozart Piano Concertos with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and legendary Artistic Director Gábor Takács-Nagy. Will performs regularly with other leading UK ensembles including Manchester Collective, London Mozart Players, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and 12 ensemble, and has appeared as guest leader with Heritage Orchestra. 

Demonstrating his dynamic versatility and broad tastes, William is a member of the Mead Men (a sea shanty group); has played for Nonclassical and at the Vortex Jazz Club; and has performed live with artists including Eminem, Laura Marling, and Deacon Blue among many others. His solo violin and viola playing was featured on the Channel 4 series Flowers (2016, 2018), and the BBC series Ghosts (2019) and Guilt (2019, 2021). 

Alongside performing, William works as an arranger; his arrangements have been featured on both Solem Quartet albums, and have been performed and broadcast by groups worldwide including London Mozart Players, the Jess Gillam Ensemble, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Quartet. As arranger/performer he has collaborated with artist Imran Perretta for his 2024 installation piece A Riot in Three Acts at Somerset House, and works regularly with film composer Isabella Summers, including for the 2024 Netflix series Kaos. In 2023/24 the Solem Quartet toured with vocalist Alice Zawadzki performing a set of Kate Bush songs arranged by Will, described as "lush and evocative".

Interested in the boundaries of concert programming and production, William’s work with the Solem Quartet has included establishing Solem Lates, a series of self-produced events championing new music, and historical music performed in new settings. Past Solem Lates projects have included playing the soundtrack from Yorgos Lanthimos’ ‘The Lobster’ live in collaboration with Picturehouse Cinemas, performing Bartok’s 3rd Quartet from memory alongside electronic music in bars and nightclubs around the UK, and Beethoven Bartók Now, a bold and large-scale project encompassing music new and old, alongside digital and educational work.  

Will teaches and coaches regularly. His past positions have included teacher of chamber music at the Royal College of Music Junior Department and at the Centre for Young Musicians, and for many years he has worked with young musicians in schools and privately. In the last year he has coached at Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra and La Mariette Juniors alongside Solem Quartet colleagues, Amy and Stephanie Tress.

Originally from Romford, North East London, William began his musical education with Havering Music School followed by private lessons with Susan Sheppard. He attended the Guildhall School from 2012-2017 where he studied with renowned chamber musicians Krysia Osostowicz and Alexander Janiczek where he won the Sheriff's Prize for Music upon graduating.