Jauvon Gilliam

Jauvon Gilliam was named principal timpanist of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in 2002.  A native of Gary, Indiana and born in 1979, Jauvon was recognized for his piano skills at an early age, performing Rhapsody in Blue with the local youth orchestra.  At the age of 11, he won his first national competition in St. Louis in both piano and percussion.  Upon his graduation from high school, he was selected to perform with the local orchestra as a soloist, performing Johann Fischer’s Concerto for Eight Kettledrums.

He received a full scholarship in piano and percussion performance to attend Butler University in Indianapolis, but later changed to full-time percussion study as a student of Jon Crabiel.  He graduated with honors with a degree in Arts Administration in 2001.  He then continued his studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he was a student of Paul Yancich.  His other teachers/mentors include Timothy K. Adams, Jr., David Herbert and Craig Hetrick.

Jauvon has performed with the symphony orchestras of Cleveland, Indianapolis, Canton, Erie and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, to name a few.  He has also toured Europe, Russia, the Middle East and the United States numerous times with various orchestras.  Jauvon has recorded with CBC Records and can be heard live on CBC Radio annually as a part of the WSO’s International New Music Festival.

Always learning and growing, Mr. Gilliam is equally active as a chamber musician and drum set performer.  He is timpanist of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and also plays drum set for the WSO pops series.

Mr. Gilliam is the Coordinator of Percussion studies at the University of Manitoba and frequently performs master classes and clinics throughout Canada and the United States.

Jauvon proudly endorses Pearl Drums and Adams Musical Instruments, Remo Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, and California Percussion Products.