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Jauvon Gilliam
Lecturer, Percussion
Director, Percussion Studies
Wind & Percussion Division
B.S., Butler University
Jauvon Gilliam was named principal timpanist of the National Symphony Orchestra in 2009 at age 29 by unanimous vote of the orchestra committee and Maestro Christoph Eschenbach.
Prior to this, he was timpanist in the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra for seven seasons. He has also performed with The Cleveland Orchestra and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, as well as the St. Paul and Indianapolis Chamber Orchestras. He was also timpanist of the Bear Valley Music Festival for three seasons.
Jauvon attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he was a student of Paul Yancich. Graduating from Butler University with a degree in Arts Administration, he received a full scholarship in piano performance for his undergraduate studies, but later changed to full-time percussion, studying with Jon Crabiel. His other teachers/mentors include Timothy K. Adams, Jr., David Herbert and Craig Hetrick.
Mr. Gilliam is currently the Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Maryland and previously held the same position at the University of Manitoba. His former students are currently performing in orchestras and teaching in universities across Canada. Jauvon is a proud artist/clinician for Remo Drumheads, Yamaha Musical Instruments and Sabian Cymbals and has presented masterclasses throughout the United States and Canada.
Visit the percussion studio website, and the Washburgh Timpani Seminar website.
---"Next it was Gilliam's turn to take the limelight...he delivered with a virtuosic performance. It was refreshing to see and hear this gifted musician emerge from the back of the orchestra." -Winnipeg Free Press, 2005, Kraft Timpani Concerto
"Special mention must be made of timpanist Jauvon Gilliam, who pounded the skins right off their kettle drums." -Winnipeg Free Press, 2007, Rite of Spring
