Jessica Williams is the Instructor of Percussion at Alabama State University. She teaches private, applied lessons, prepares music education majors in the percussion methods course, coaches the ASU Percussion Ensemble, and is assistant director of the ASU Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble.
Ms. Williams has performed with the Grammy award-winning quartet, Third Coast Percussion in a production of John Luther Adams’ Inuksuit at the Fayetteville Botanical Gardens in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She has performed with the Prizm Chamber Orchestra in Memphis, TN, the Contemporary Chamber Players, the University of Memphis Wind Ensemble, the University of Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Memphis Percussion Ensemble. Ms. Williams has also performed as a percussionist for the Little Mermaid and Newsies at the Desoto Family Theatre in Southaven, Mississippi. She collaborated with Dr. William Shaltis, Assistant Professor of Percussion at the University of Memphis, to have a performance of Inuksuit on April 22, 2018 at Shelby Farms in Memphis, TN.
Ms. Williams is a clinician and performs throughout the southern United States. She has traveled to local high schools and colleges. Notable performances and clinics include the University of North Alabama, the National Conference of Percussion Pedagogy, at the Tennessee Day of Percussion in Huntingdon, TN as part of their inter-collegiate percussion ensemble, and the University of Memphis Day of Percussion.
Ms. Williams is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Percussion Performance with a cognate in Wind Conducting at the University of Memphis. She is currently working on her dissertation, which will focus on the steel pan music of Andy Akiho with an emphasis on his Synesthesia Suite, his experience with synesthesia and the historical significance of the steel pan. She has received her Masters of. Music Performance from the University of Florida and her Bachelor of Music Education and a Bachelors of Music Performance from Alabama State University. Ms. Williams is also sponsored by Sabian Cymbals and Tama-Bergerault Percussion.
