Dr. Kenyon Williams, Professor of Percussion and Chair of the School of Performing Arts at Minnesota State University Moorhead, has worked throughout the United States as a professional performer, educator, arranger, and clinician. He has performed as a guest artist at festivals and events around the world, including PASIC, SEAMUS, TEDx, as well as at numerous state music education and percussion conferences. He has performed as a guest soloist and section member for numerous orchestras across the country and has founded, performed in, and directed a variety of new music and world music ensembles including the Varying Degrees Percussion Trio, Soulsa de Fargo salsa band, and Poco Fuego steel drum band. Dr. Williams currently serves as Principal Percussionist for the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and directs the percussion studio at MSUM where he leads the Fuego Tropical World Percussion Ensemble, the Dragon Drumline, and the Percussion Ensemble.
His interests have taken him abroad for extended studies in Ghana, Cuba, Brazil, Indonesia, St. Lucia, and Trinidad, where he has performed with the legendary Invaders and Birdsong Steel Orchestras. As an educator, he teaches each summer at the International Music Camp as well as serving as a faculty member for the Kicks Big Band Jazz Camp. As an advocate for the percussive arts, he has served as a member of the Board of Advisors of the Percussive Arts Society as well as a past Chairman for the PAS World Music Committee.
A Yamaha Performing Artist, Dr. Williams has published original works through Tapspace Publishing and also endorses Latin Percussion instruments, Innovative sticks and mallets, and Coyle Steel Drums. His solo album of commissioned works for percussion, Homage, can be found on multiple streaming platforms.