Williams, Jan, 1939-

Jan Williams was born in Utica, New York in 1939. He earned his B.M. and M.M. degrees as a percussionist at the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Paul Price. Williams came to Buffalo as a Creative Associate at the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts in 1964. He became a member of the University at Buffalo Music Faculty in 1967 and Co-Director of the Center in 1974. Williams has been a mainstay of the international contemporary music scene, as percussionist, conductor, administrator, and educator.

From the description of Jan Williams Collection of Images, 1962-2007. (SUNY at Buffalo). WorldCat record id: 450072523

Jan Williams was born in Utica, New York in 1939. He earned his B.M. and M.M. degrees as a percussionist at Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Paul Price. Jan Williams came to Buffalo as a Creative Associate at the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts in 1964. He became a member of the University at Buffalo Music Faculty in 1967 and Co-Director of the Center in 1974. He has been a mainstay of the contemporary music scene, not only in Buffalo, but also internationally, as percussionist, conductor, administrator, and educator. Composer Morton Feldman (1926-1987) joined the University at Buffalo Music Faculty in 1972. He was the Slee Professor, 1972-1973, Edgar Varèse Professor, 1975-1987, and the Director of the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts, 1976-1980. Feldman also established the June in Buffalo festival in 1975 at the University. Under his leadership the new festival was presented 1975-1978, and again in 1980, with a year off in 1979 when Feldman was on sabbatical.

From the description of Images, 1974-1979. (SUNY at Buffalo). WorldCat record id: 48959094

Percussionist, conductor, composer, and instructor Jan Williams was born July 17, 1939 in Utica, New York. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Music at Manhattan School of Music where he studied percussion with Paul Price and he was a member of the American Symphony Orchestra 1962-1964 under conductor Leopold Stokowski. Williams was selected as one of the first class of Creative Associates for the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts in 1964 at the University at Buffalo. He remained at the University at Buffalo where he created the University at Buffalo Percussion Ensemble in 1964, was appointed to the Music Faculty in 1967, served as Chair of the Music Department 1981-1984, and retired in 1996. He also served as artistic director of the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts 1974-1979 and as its resident conductor 1976-1980. He co-directed the North American New Music Festival with Yvar Mikhashoff 1983-1991. Jan Williams has performed as solo percussionist with orchestras in Paris, Berlin, Israel, Detroit, New York, and Copenhagen. He has appeared as percussionist, conductor, and instructor throughout the United States and internationally. Composers who have written works for him include John Cage, Elliott Carter, Joel Chadabe, Luis De Pablo, Gustavo Matamoros, Frederic Rzewski, Iannis Xenakis, Morton Feldman, Orlando Garcia, Nils Vigeland, and Lukas Foss. His playing and conducting has been captured on at least three dozen commercial recordings and hundreds of archival recordings.

From the description of Jan Williams Collection of Annotated Scores, 1950-1999. (SUNY at Buffalo). WorldCat record id: 57681040