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Hailed as “note perfect” and “Zeus-like” (BBC Radio), Jauvon Gilliam was named principal timpanist of the National Symphony Orchestra in 2009—the first African-American principal in the history of the organization.

Gilliam has also performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Detroit and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras, Budapest Festival Orchestra, the Chineke! Orchestra, the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. He is also timpanist of the All-Star Orchestra, a made-for-PBS group of musicians from orchestras across North America. He was also timpanist of the Bear Valley Music Festival for three seasons.

Gilliam has performed concerti with the National, Baltimore, and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras, as well as at Carnegie Hall with the Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra. 

Gilliam is currently Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Maryland. His students have positions in symphony orchestras, military bands, and at universities around the globe. Gilliam has taught clinics at institutions across North and South America, Europe, and Africa, including the Aspen Music Festival, Interlochen Arts Academy, New World Symphony, and at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. He is co-founder of the annual Washburgh Timpani Seminar, a timpani coach for the National Youth Orchestra of the USA, and on the artist/faculty roster of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival. 

Prior to his NSO appointment, Gilliam was principal timpanist of the Winnipeg Symphony for seven years. While there, he was also timpanist of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Coordinator of Percussion Studies at the University of Manitoba, and for a time, played drum set for the WSO pops series.

A native of Gary, Indiana, Gilliam began his musical career playing piano, winning his first national competition at age 11. He began his studies at Butler University in piano performance, but later changed to full-time percussion study. He graduated with honors with a degree in Arts Administration and then continued his graduate studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Gilliam received an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater in 2014 and was the commencement keynote speaker. 

He has been covered by several national and international media outlets, including NPR, PBS, CBC, NBC, Fox News, Billboard, the New York Times, Washington Post, Washington Business Journal, and the International Musician.                

Gilliam is a strong advocate for diversifying the classical music landscape. Gilliam is a founding board member of the Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists, and a contributing member to the Black Orchestral Network and the Network for Diversity in Concert Percussion. In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, Gilliam co-founded We Over Me Productions, a production company created to use the arts to tell a story that will keep the conversation of systemic racism, social inequities and injustices at the forefront of people’s consciousness in an effort to create lasting change through tangible actions. 

Locally, he has aimed to make music and the arts more accessible to underserved communities throughout the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. In February 2021, he opened The Shed DMV, a 24/7 multi-studio rehearsal facility aimed to provide artists—of all levels and from every walk of life—the space, resources, time, and opportunity to create, collaborate, and grow.  The Shed partners with local schools and organizations to serve thousands of Prince George’s County students through pro-bono programs, instrument donations, and clinic/masterclass support. The Shed is the home to Gilliam’s instrument rental company, Capitol Percussion + Backline Rentals.

Gilliam proudly endorses Yamaha musical instruments, Remo drumheads, Sabian cymbals, and has his own signature line of timpani mallets made by Innovative Percussion.