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Timothy Adams Jr., the Mildred Goodrum Heyward Professor in Music, was named Chair of the Percussion Department at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia in fall 2010. Adams received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Prior to joining the faculty at UGA, Mr. Adams held the post of Principal Timpanist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, was Professor of Music at Carnegie Mellon University, and spent ten summers as Percussion faculty at the Brevard Music Center.
Mr. Adams has played in many major concert halls across the globe and has performed under the batons of numerous acclaimed conductors and with notable soloists. As a soloist himself, Adams has appeared with the Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Hartford, Knoxville, and Asheville symphony orchestras, as well as the Florida Philharmonic.
A champion of the music of our time, Adams has had several works commissioned for him, including “The Messenger” concerto for percussion and orchestra by James Oliverio, “The Healer” concerto for percussion and orchestra by Lucas Richman, “Primal Instincts” concerto for percussion and orchestra by Bill Banfield, “Tarantula” concerto for marimba and orchestra by Larry Baker, “Interzones” for solo vibraphone and prerecorded tape by Bruce Hamilton, “Rituals” for solo timpani by Bruce Hamilton, and “Quicksilver Pieces” for solo vibraphone by David Liptak.
Adams was born and raised in Covington, GA and currently lives in Athens with his wife, Kimberly Toscano Adams, their son, and three dogs.