2021–22 New Faculty Appointments

The UMD School of Music welcomes percussionist Ji Su Jung and tubist Willie Clark.

By Kelsey Eustace

The University of Maryland School of Music (SOM) is excited to welcome two new faculty members to the wind and percussion division starting in the 2021–22 academic year. Ji Su Jung will serve as percussion lecturer and director of the UMD Percussion Ensemble. Willie E. Clark, Jr., will serve as tuba lecturer, chamber coach and director of the UMD Brass Ensemble. 

“Ms. Jung and Mr. Clark are preeminent musicians and pedagogues of the highest caliber,” said SOM Director Gregory Miller. “We are looking forward to having them join our esteemed faculty and share their artistry and expertise with our students and the UMD community.”

Jung comes to Maryland after serving as visiting percussion faculty for the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in percussion performance. Before teaching at Peabody, she served as percussion instructor for the Yale College, where she earned her Master of Music and Artist Diploma in percussion performance.

Her approach to the marimba and solo percussion performance has created a distinctive voice that shines in its lyricism and beauty. Jung is an active international soloist and has given masterclasses throughout the world including for the Curtis Institute, Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, Rice University, Miami University and many others.

Jung’s performance credits include concerto performances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Festival Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Romanian Symphony Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony and Windsor Symphony Orchestra in Canada. She has performed marimba recitals across the country at notable venues including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Jung won first prize at the Houston Symphony’s 2018 Ima Hogg Competition, becoming the first percussionist to win the award in 26 years. Jung tours internationally as a member of The Percussion Collective, a group of young and accomplished percussionists. She appeared as a young artist-in-residence on NPR’s Performance Today by the invitation of Fred Child.

Master Sergeant Clark is tubist with the United States Air Force Ceremonial Brass, a position he has held since 2003. He performs regularly at Arlington National Cemetery, the White House, the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol. Career highlights include performing at the Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony, several presidential inauguration events and five NBC TODAY Show appearances. He is principal tuba with the National Philharmonic and a founding member of Barclay Brass. He was also a founding member of the Walt Disney World tuba quartet, The Tubafours.

Clark has toured with the Empire Brass, the American Wind Symphony Orchestra and the China National Symphony. He has presented masterclasses and clinics throughout the U.S., Europe, Australia, Mexico, South America, China and Japan.  
 
Clark holds a Bachelor of Music in tuba performance from the University of Illinois and a Master of Music from the University of Georgia. His teaching experience includes serving as adjunct tuba instructor at Stetson University and Bethune-Cookman University.  

Photo Credits:
Clark first photo: Eddie Sanders; Clark second photo: Bruce Vartan Boyajian