Timothy K. Adams Jr. (born 1969) is the Mildred Goodrum Heyward Professor at the

University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...

’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Prior to joining the faculty, he was the Principal Timpani with the Canton Symphony Orchestra,

Florida Philharmonic Orchestra The Florida Philharmonic Orchestra (or FPO, founded in 1985 as the Philharmonic Orchestra of Florida) was a symphony orchestra based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and serving the South Florida metropolitan area (including Miami-Dade, Broward, and ...

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) is an American orchestra based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The largest performing arts organization in Indiana, the orchestra is based at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis on Monument Cir ...

, and

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra The ''Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra'' (''PSO'') is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The orchestra's home is Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District. History The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is an Americ ...

Early life and education

Adams was born in Covington, Georgia in 1969. His father was a band director for middle schools and high schools in Georgia. At the age of 13, as the youngest member of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, Adams chose to pursue a career in music. From the 4th grade through the 12th, he studied with Bill Wilder, the assistant timpani and percussion in the

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The ASO's main concert venue is Atlanta Symphony Hall in the Woodruff Arts Center. History Though earlier organizations bearing the same name date b ...

. As a senior in high school, Adams started playing as an extra in the Atlanta Symphony and continued playing with them through college. Adams received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the

Cleveland Institute of Music The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) is a private music conservatory in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 1920 by Ernest Bloch, it enrolls 325 students in the conservatory and approximately 1,500 students in the preparatory and continuing educa ...

and spent two summers as a fellow of the

Tanglewood Music Center The Tanglewood Music Center is an annual summer music academy in Lenox, Massachusetts, United States, in which emerging professional musicians participate in performances, master classes and workshops. The center operates as a part of the Tanglewo ...

. While completing his undergraduate degree, Adams won the Principal Timpani Position with the Canton Symphony Orchestra. In the mid-1980s, Adams participated in a band called the

Exotic Birds The Exotic Birds was an American Synthpop music group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, in 1982 by three Cleveland Institute of Music percussion students ( Andy Kubiszewski, Tom Freer and Timothy Adams Jr.) They wrote their own music, a ...

. As an alumnus of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Adams was honored with their 2020 Outstanding Alumni Award during their Commencement Weekend.

Career

Adams held the position of Principal Timpani with the Canton Symphony Orchestra for five years before being hired by the

. He played with the orchestra for four years before replacing Thomas N. Akins as the Principal Timpanist of the

. While in Indianapolis, he also held the position of Principal Percussionist of the Eastern Music Festival and held a faculty position at

Butler University Butler University is a private university in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university has over 60 major academic fields of study in six colleges: the Lacy School of Business, College of Communi ...

. Adams was also the sole black member of the orchestra during his years with them. Adams eventually left Indianapolis in 1995 to become the Principal Timpanist of the

(PSO). In his capacity as Principal Timpanist, Adams appeared on

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' (sometimes shortened to ''Mister Rogers'') is an American half-hour educational children's television series that ran from 1968 to 2001, and was created and hosted by Fred Rogers. The series ''Misterogers'' debu ...

in 1999 to promote classical music. He was also active in the Pittsburgh community, participating in Education and Outreach activities as both a coach and mentor to aspiring percussionists. Adams left PSO in 2010 to pursue other interests and joined the faculty at the

as their Chair of the Percussion Department in 2010. In March 2021, Adams was given the Mildred Goodrum Heyward Distinguished Professor title at the University of Georgia’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music in honor of his "significant impact on the university in addition to fulfilling his regular academic responsibilities."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Timothy Jr. Living people 1969 births American timpanists People from Georgia (U.S. state) Butler University faculty University of Georgia faculty Carnegie Mellon University faculty