Anthony Williams, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Mary, holds the Master of Music degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and the Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Central Arkansas. His primary teachers include John Mueller, Will Kimball , Micah Everett, and Denis Winter. Before joining the University of Mary faculty in 2010, Mr. Williams was Director of Jazz Studies at The LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, TN. He is currently in the final stages of completing the Doctoral of Musical Arts at the University of Memphis.
Williams is currently lead trombonist with the Dave Lisik Jazz Orchestra and has previously worked as Principal Trombonist with the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra and 2nd Trombonist with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra. He has also worked with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, University of Memphis Faculty Jazz Players, Memphis Jazz Orchestra, and Jazz Orchestra of the Delta. During his career he has had the pleasure of performing with artists and ensembles such as the Ray Charles Orchestra, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Chris Merz's X-tet, Slide Hampton, Peter Erskine, Cuong Vu, Rufus Reid, Roy McCurdy, John Mayer, Clark Terry, David Sanchez, Chris Vadala, Jack Wilkins, Bill Tole, Mark Helias, Donald Brown, Tom Giampietro, Ben Monder, Jim Cullum, Mike Fahn, and Luis Bonilla.
As a competitor, Mr. Williams has been involved and had success by winning the 2008 University of Memphis Concerto Competition and the 2004 National Association of Negro Musicians Concerto competition. Mr. Williams has appeared as a guest artist at Delta State University, Austin Peay State University, The University of Central Arkansas, with The University of Memphis Wind Ensemble (2007 and 2009), and the 2008 Electro-Acoustic Juke Joint.
Williams is an active member of the Jazz Education Network, International Trombone Association, and the College Music Society,