Jauvon Gilliam, hailed as “note perfect” and “Zeus-like” (BBC Radio), was named principal timpanist of the National Symphony Orchestra in 2009 – the first African American principal in its history. Currently, he is also timpanist of the Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra and is on the artist/faculty roster of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival.
He has performed as guest timpanist with top ensembles including the Budapest Festival Orchestra, as well as the symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Detroit, Indianapolis, Hawaii, Cleveland, the UK-based Chineke! Orchestra, Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center, and the PBS-based All-Star Orchestra.
Gilliam has appeared as soloist with the National, Baltimore, and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras and at Carnegie Hall with the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony. From 2010 to 2024, he served as Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Maryland, mentoring students now in orchestras, military bands, and teaching at universities worldwide. He has led masterclasses across five continents and taught at festivals and institutions including Aspen, Interlochen, New World, and the National Youth Orchestra of the USA.
Prior to his NSO appointment, Gilliam was principal timpanist of the Winnipeg Symphony for seven seasons. A native of Gary, Indiana, he began his career as a pianist, later earning his degree from Butler University. He received an honorary doctorate from Butler in 2014.
He proudly endorses Yamaha musical instruments, Remo drumheads, Sabian cymbals, and has a signature line of timpani mallets by Dragonfly Percussion.