Education:
Project Management Institute Seminar - Certificate of training (2003)
Depaul University, Chicago IL - Graduate coursework in Marketing (1985)
Webster University, St. Louis MO - MA in Management and Human Relations (1983)
American Management Association (AMA) - Seminar studies in management (1982)
Army Personnel School Ft. Harrison IN - Diploma, Personnel and Organizational Administration (1980)
Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma WA - Graduate coursework in Music Composition (1979)
Army School of Music, Norfolk VA - Diploma, Performance (bass) (1978)
Berklee College of Music, Boston MA - Bachelor of Music in Composition (1976),
Private Instruction with Dr. Hugo Norden - Counterpoint; Michael Gibbs, Jazz Composition (1975) [to top]
Columbia College Chicago (February 1997- Present)
Full Time Faculty - Arts Entertainment Media Management Program (AEMMP) (Tenured February 1998)
Duties (1999 - 2008):
-Coordinate the Music Business Concentration to include supervising fourteen instructors
-Develop and coordinate the Computer Uses For Managers curriculum to include interviewing and hiring part-time instructors
-Teach music production and music business classes
-Advise undergraduate and graduate students to include development of Graduate Thesis
Accomplishments
-Through meetings with part-time faculty, revised the multi-section production curriculum and the multi-section
Computer Uses For Managers Curriculum to insure consistency horizontally and vertically.
-Developed new cross-sectional syllabi for both areas to insure the AEMMP could gather necessary
data for future formal student assessment of these areas
-Through redesign of course curriculum in Music Production, helped increase the total number
of music business students to be the highest by concentration in the college for the first time.
Present:
Teach Music Business and Production classes
National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum (October 2003 -October 2004)
Executive Director
Duties
-Promote synergy and performance advantages to achieve business and operational improvements.
-Gain and sustain the commitment of Board of Director leadership, ensuring the engagement of all team members,
and providing opportunities for involvement in the program that embrace's the artists and the community.
-Assume responsibility and accountability for the financial performance of the museum.
-Provide on-going results (metrics) to demonstrate that the museum goals and objectives are on target.
Accomplishments
-Raised $140,000 through the implementation of a fund raising plan and founded the Above and Beyond Patriot Award
-Developed community visibility and met with Mayor Richard Daley to discuss the Museum plans
-Developed and implemented plans that provided for the completion of the third floor exhibit areaat a cost of $104,000.00
Sound and Management Department
-Developed course concept for, and taught, Computer-Based Sound Production (Sound)
-Instructor of Introduction to Management (AEMMP)
Artist-In Residence Music Department (September1990 - September 1996)
-Wrote curriculum and taught:
Studio Production for Musicians curriculum
Computer Music Printing (Finale) course
Music Theory For Engineers course
Demo Production
-Department Coordinator for the multi-section Music Workshop freshman classes
-Instructor of Harmony and Ear Training, Orchestration and Music Theory
Part-time faculty, Music Department (September 1989 - May 1990)
-Instructor of Introduction to Music Theory
Served on the All College Council, Tenure Committee, Curriculum Committee, Harassment Committee and other college wide committees [to top]
[to top]Duties:
- Recruiting: Through on-site personal communications with high school band directors, recruited students from New Trier High School, Curry High School and other Chicago Public schools, to participate in the Jazz ensemble. The Sherwood Jazz Ensemble was the first student ensemble to play as part of the National Academy of Record Arts and Sciences (NARAS) Grammy In The --- Schools Program
-Rehearsing/Conducting: Composed, arranged and conducted jazz, rock/pop and seasonal music for the jazz ensemble
-Community Service: The Sherwood Jazz Ensemble performed for community based organizations to include performances at commercial banks
-Founded and developed the curriculum for Commercial Music Studies
Accomplishments:
-Purchased and installed an eight stationed music synthesizer lab
-Instructor of MIDI Concepts for Beginners, MIDI for Educators (for Chicago Public School Teachers), Music Printing with Finale and Demo Production [to top]
Duties/Responsibilities:
-Manage $100,000.00 budget
-Recruit new band members
-Conduct Army Reserve Band as part of the United Sates Army Morale and Welfare initiatives. Conducted in concert, music from Berlioz to John Williams
-Coordinate and organize community-based performances
-Counsel and advise 30 member ensemble as it relates to professional and personal growth
-Respond effectively and efficiently to directives and requirements from superiors
Northeastern Illinois University (1984)
Berklee College of Music (June 1976 to December 1977)
Classical:
Quiet Shadows - String Quartet- composed September 1978
The Ethel Quartet - NYC (2003) Orlando Florida (2005)
A Symphony of Place - for Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Big Band, Gospel Choir, Chorus, Children's Chorus, Narrator and Soprano and Baritone voice - composed September 2000 - Premiered January 2001 by the Oak Park and River Forest Symphony Orchestra -Jay Friedman conductor.
An African Fanfare - for African percussion ensemble, audience and Orchestra - composed Aug. 99
Duluth Superior Symphonic Orchestra -Yong Yan Hu Conductor-premiere, Oct. 99
Buffalo Soldiers - for Symphonic Band - composed June 1997-January 1998 performed by:
Chicago Sinfonietta (orchestra version) - Paul Freeman , conductor (November 2006)
DePaul University Concert Band - Rodney Dorsey, conductor (February 2001)
214th Army Ground Forces Band - Bandmaster, conductor (February 2001)
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (orchestra arrangement) - Thomas Wilkins, conductor (March 2000)
West Point Concert Band - LTC Dietrick, conductor (February 21, 1999)
Recorded by the St Peterburg (Russia) Symphony on the CD titled "Buffalo Soldiers" and released on LBM Records 2006
[to top]
Two Gether - String Quartet - composed Aug. 1995 [to top]
Two Gether - Orchestra - orchestration of String Quartet, (December 1996)
Ho Chi Minh City Symphony Orchestra - James McDonald, conductor (September 2001)
String Currents - Kay George Roberts, conductor (March 1998)
Chicago Sinfonietta - Paul Freeman, conductor (January1997)
From You - for orchestra and gospel choir - composed January 1995, performed by:
Lincoln Symphony - Yong Yan Hu, conductor (April 1995)
Fanfare For Life - Orchestra - composed February 1994, performed by:
Alabama Symphony- Leslie B. Dunner, conductor (January 2008)
Nashville Symphony - Karen Lynne Deal, conductor (January 2007)
Chicago Sinfonietta - Paul Freeman, conductor (April 2004)
Chicago Sinfonietta - Paul Freeman, conductor (September 2003)
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra - Kay Roberts, conductor (September 2000)
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra - Paul Freeman, conductor (February 2000)
Shreveport Symphony - Kay Roberts, conductor (January 2000)
Nashville Symphony - (January 1999)
Savannah Symphony - Tania Leon, Conductor (February 1996)
Northwest Symphony Orchestra - Paul Vermeer, conductor (January 1996)
Chicago Sinfonietta - Paul Freeman, conductor (May 1994)
Kokomo Symphony - Brian Groner, conductor (July and Oct. 94)
Recorded by the St Petersburg (Russia) Symphony on the CD titled "Buffalo Soldiers" and released on LBM Records 2006
[to top]
New Beginnings - String Quartet - composed Feb. 1994
Symphony For The Sons of Nam - Orchestra - composed November 1991, performed by:
Denver School of The Arts Orchestra - Frank Fyock, conductor (December 2007)
Denver School of The Arts Orchestra - Frank Fyock, conductor (March 2004)
Charlotte North Carolina Symphony Orchestra - Alan Yamamoto, conductor (January 2004)
Ho Chi Minh City Symphony Orchestra - James McDonald, conductor (September 2001)
The Rockford Symphony Orchestra - Stephen Locke, conductor (March 2001)
The Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra - Stephen Locke, conductor (October 1999)
Lancaster Symphony - Stephen Gunthenhauser, conductor (March 1999)
Philadelphia Orchestra - Andre Smith, conductor (January 1999)
Indianapolis Symphony - Paul Freeman, conductor (February 1998)
Atlanta Symphony - Andre Smith, conductor (January 1998)
Winona Symphony - Paul Vance, conductor (March 1997)
Delaware Symphony Orchestra - Stephen Gunzenhauser, conductor (March 1997)
Chicago Sinfonietta - Paul Freeman, conductor (January 1996)
North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra - Carlton Woods, conductor (March 1995)
Chicago Sinfonietta - Paul Freeman, conductor (November 1994) (revised version)
Sacramento Symphony - Jeremy Swerley, conductor (April 1994)
Lincoln Symphony Orchestra - Yong Yan Hu, conductor (November 1993)
Chicago Sinfonietta - Yong Yan Hu, conductor (April 1993)
Detroit Symphony Orchestra - Leslie Dunner, conductor (April 1993)
Savannah Symphony Orchestra - Phillip Greenberg, conductor (February 1992)
Recorded by the St Petersburg Russian Symphony on the CD titled "Buffalo Soldiers" and released on LBM Records 2006
Jazz and Popular:
Kimotion (formerly The Paumalu Symphony) - Founded, and composed original jazz-influenced music for 25-member ensemble
Performances:
Chicago/Oak Park Ill - 2003
Martyrs Concert club
Oak Park Area Arts Council Jazz Concert Series
Wisconsin/California - 2002
University of Wisconsin (with Vinnie Colaiuta)
Pepperdine University (With Vinnie Colaiuta and actor Gary Sinise)
Chicago 1980 - 2001
Getz Theater of Columbia College
Northeastern University
Dance Center at Columbia College (with actor Gary Sinise)
(with Vinnie Colaiuta former drummer with Frank Zappa and Sting)
Boston 1976 - 1977
The Esplanade on the Charles River
Walpole Prison
Berklee Performance Center
BOJ- Band of Jimis music of Jimi Hendrix - Formed and directs this three member group performing the music of Jimi Hendrix
Performances in Chicago concert venues since 1995
BASH -Composed original pop-rock music and performed on electric bass [to top]
Music Publisher-One Omik Music-BMI/ Harry Fox Publications
-Applied Music Theory For Managers Engineers Producers and Artists(2nd Edition) -Textbook (2002)
-Applied Music Theory For Managers Engineers Producers and Artists -Textbook (2002)
-The Digital Producer - Professional Paper for Berklee Alumni Newsletter (2001)
-Classical Music in Chicago - Professional Research Paper for the Newberry Library and their History of Chicago Encyclopedia (1995)
-Diagonal Harmony- Manuscript, a new concepts in compositional harmony (unpublished).
-The Evolving Symphony Orchestra - Professional paper presented at the Columbia College Arts and Collaborations Symposium (December 1995.
-Music scores and arrangements
[to top]
Commercial Record Company - Little Beck Music (LBM) Producer and Engineer Releases:
-Kimo and The Paumalu Symphony -War Stories featuring Mike Stern,Victor Bailey,and others, received critical reviews to include four and one half stars from Downbeat magazine.
-Carol Williams - Self-titled CD 1991
-Carol Williams - Small Town Girl 1997
-Carol Williams - Musical Prayers 1998
-Carol Williams - I Can Live With That 2006
-Kimotion - A Streetcar Named Desire (music from the Steppenwolf production)
-Kimo Williams and Kimotion - Tracking featuring Michael Brecker, Vinnie Colaiuta, Victor Bailey and other nationally recognized jazz artist
Kimo Williams and Kimotion - Kimotion Live with Vinnie Vinnie Colaiuta [to top]
-Buffalo Soldiers -Three symphonies performed by the St Petersburg Russian Symphony includes Symphony For The Sons of Nam, Fanfare For Life and Buffalo Soldiers.
Engineer/Owner- Recording facility (LBM Recording Studio) Constructed and managed a commercial music recording facility.
Multi-Media Development and Productions (LBM Multimedia)
Plan, construct and produce multi-media Web-based and Computer-based productions
Productions:
On-line interactive web-based courses
Flash oriented presentation platforms
Student Orientation/recruiting DVD for the Arts Entertainment Media Management Program (in development)
Music Production Services (LBM Productions)
-Computer-based music printing (Finale)
-Musical group performances - Duos to Big Band
-Electric Bass performer
-Compose Music for Theater and Dance
-Musical Director Services
-Composer/Arranger
-Accomplishments/Productions:
-Affection - ballet performed by the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago (June 1997)
-Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Musical Director at the Goodman Theater (1997) (received positive review from the Wall Street Journal)
-A Street Car Named Desire - Composed music for The Steppenwolf Theaters production (1997) (received positive reviews relating to the music)
-Mozart's' Don Giovanni and Marriage of Figaro - instrumental orchestral arrangement for Fanfare/Intersound Records' Enhanced CD release - release date May 1996
Commissions:
NEA/American Composers Forum/Oak Park Illinois: A Symphony of Place - (Jan. 2001)
Joffrey Ballet: Affection - Symphonic-Big-Band-Rock (1998)
West Point Academy: Buffalo Soldiers - Symphonic Band (1997)
Chicago Sinfonietta: Two Gether - String Quartet (1995)
Lincoln Symphony Orchestra: All From You - Orchestra (1995)
AT&T: Fanfare For Life - Orchestra (1994)
Dr. and Mrs. John Freitag: New Beginnings - String Quartet (1994)
Chicago Sinfonietta: Animal Stories - Orchestra (1994)
Professional Activities:
Music Director/Founder/Guitarist/Arts Manager
Arts Management Consultant (panelist) - State of Illinois Arts Council (2000)
Arts Management Consultant (adjudicator) - State of Michigan's Arts Council, (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005)
Conducted on-site evaluations of musical arts organizations and provided detailed assessment reports on submitted grant proposals. Organizations include:
-The Detroit Symphony
-The Grand Rapids Symphony
-University Music Society
Lecturer/Papers
The Hawaii International Conference on Business - Entreprenuerism in the Music Industry (2007)
University of Wisconsin at Whitewater - The African American Composer (2000 and 2002)
Ho Chi Minh Conservatory of Music - The Essence of the American Composer (2001)
Oak Park IL Public Schools - Music and Composition (2001)
Arts Management Consortium St Petersburg Russia - Marketing in The Arts (2003)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Pre-concert presenter (1995 to 2001)
Ho Chi Minh Conservatory of Music and the Hanoi Conservatory of Music in Viet Nam - The Concepts of American Music (1998)
Indianapolis IN Public Schools - Music and Composition (1998)
Atlanta GA Public Schools - Music and Composition (1998)
North Park College - Pre-concert with The Andersen String Quartets' performance of the music of William Grant Still (1996)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Pre-concert and in-school presentations for their production of African Portraits, (April 1997 and April 1998)
University of Chicago - Composition Symposium with Bruno Nettle (1996)
Columbia College - Creativity Symposium The Creative Compose- Can Creativity be Taught ?(1994)
Chicago Public Schools - Music and Composition, through the following organizations:
Ravina Music Festival, Chicago Symphony and United States Vietnam Arts Program (1995 through 2001)
Master Classes
Hue Conservatory of Music - an introduction to Jazz Improvisation (June 2008)
Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music - Jazz Improvisation and the American Experience (7 day workshop 2007)
Univ of Wisconsin Whitewater WI - with Vinnie Colauita - Concepts of the Jazz Ensemble Through the Composition (2002)
Lancaster PA. Public Schools - How To Compose (1999)
Tri-Cities High Schools - Atlanta GA - What is Composing (1998)
Ravina Music Festival - Developed a music education partnership program with elementary schools - (1995-98) The Process of Composition
Ravina Music Festival - Illinois Spina Bifida Association - Anyone Can Compose Music (1997)
Guest panelist
Columbia College Chicago - NARAS Grammy's In The Schools - Careers in the Music Business (2001)
Morehouse/Spellman College Atlanta GA - With pianist Billy Taylor and Pulitzer Prize winning composer George Walker - (broadcast on NPR) (1998)
Columbia College Chicago - Coordinated and presented a panel of internationally recognized arts individuals for a Lily Endowment Symposium presented a paper The Evolving American Symphony Orchestra - Creating an Atmosphere of Inclusiveness Within a Multicultural Environment (1995)
Detroit Symphony - Symposium on African-American Composers (1995)
NAACP ACT-SO - Judge national composers competition (1992)
Savannah Symphony -With Adolph Hailstork - The African American Composer (1991)
DePaul University - NARAS Grammy's In The Schools (1990)
Harold Washington College - Developed through the education committee the first NARAS Grammy's In The Schools (1989)
Radio and Television Exposure
Television:
Discovery Channel(Natiuonal Geographic - Featured interviewee, Vietnam From Their own Words (2008)
WTTW Featured Personality related to my selection as Chicagoan of the Year. (2006)
WFLD Fox Thing In The Morning Relating to my award as Chicagoan of the Year. (2006)
CLTV Interview relating to the premiere of Buffalo Soldiers (2006)
CBS TV- CSI New York- Musician (Feb. 2005)
ArtBeat Chicago - with Gary Sinise (2002)
190 North, Channel 7 - with Gary Sinise (2002)
Conan O'Brian Talk Show - Gary Sinise promoted LBM CD release (2002)
Jon Daley Show - Gary Sinise promoted LBM CD release (2002)
David Letterman - Gary Sinise promoted LBM CD release (2002)
Fox TV 32 - On air panelist /consultant for their production, Classical Music and Minorities (1995)
Radio:
WBEZ Early Edition - relating to remembering September 11th as an artist
WBEZ Steve Edwards (with Gary Sinise) - relating to the release of Tracking (2002)
WBEZ Steve Edwards - relating to composition Symphony of Place (2001)
NPR Performance Today - Interviewed and Symphony For The Sons of Nam programmed (Annually on Memorial Day 1993 - 2000) (2008)
Studs Terkles' interview program - relating to String Quartet premiere (1993)
Video:
Clearvue Education Series - featured composer on their Video release What is a Composer (1999)
Print/Reviews Orchestra Music (additional news stories and full reviews available on request):
The Chicago Tribune (re Buffalo Soldiers): Jon Van Rhein"What Buffalo Soldiers sets out to do it does most effectively" (2006)
The Chicago Tribune "the score has an appealing unpretentiousness"
The Detroit Free Press - "A gifted melodist with great ideas and a clear sense of what works and what doesn't--- His Symphony has abundant popular appeal"
American Record Guide - "The composer has a superb ear for instrumental color and orchestration"
St Petersburg Times - "tuneful music with lots of popular appeal"
The Chicago SunTimes - "immediately accessible"
The Lincoln Journal - "Williams' classical training and rock music experience are evident in his effective use of rhythm, percussion and instrumental color"
The Sacramento Bee - "impressive talent at work"
The Lincoln Star - "handsomely balanced and lovely to hear--- the crowd liked it"
The Chicago Defender -"he has a unique gift for composing a modern work that audiences crave
to hear again and again"
Buffalo News - "has a lack of pretension that sustains interest"
Northwest Arkansas Times - "His use of the orchestra showed a palate of extraordinary colors"
The Atlanta Journal - "His powerful Symphony bristles with bold rhythmic vitality and his treatment of themes seems to reflect influences ranging from native American song to Leonard Bernstein".
The Delaware News Journal - "Williams' orchestration is lavish and his style cinematic, the result is alluring, the writing for unusual instruments often produces dramatic, dynamic music. This is vivid, vital music"
Print/Reviews Jazz Music (additional news stories and full reviews available on request):
Downbeat - "Powerful Stuff 41/2 stars"
Jazziz - "A fat slick sound with horns slicing through guitar grunge"
The Chicago SunTimes - "Williams' comes up with a sound that is sheer energy and unpretentious"
JazzTimes - "Williams' brilliant, razor-edged mosaics bristle with the audacious rawness of Zappa"
Tucson Citizen - "The sound is energetic, rocking instead of swinging, and flirting, bass-rich rhythms that rumble and drive"
Modern Drummer - "Vinnie Colaiuta (performing on the CD Tracking), feels time elapsing in slow motion, which allows him to carve it [Kimo's compositions] into an infinite number of jaw-dropping variations"
Chicago Journal - "Elusive, if not quiet, Kimotion offers Columbia audiences a wonderfully weird show"
DownBeat - "Kimotion put on an energetic performance of his signature big band rock"
Awards/Honors [to top]
Fulbright Specialist, Selected - Develop international program on American Jazz History and improvisation and it relations to Cultural Identity - (2007-2012)
Chicago Magazine, Recipient - Chicagoan of The Year (2006)
NEA Continental Harmony Project, Winner - Commission A Symphony of Place (2001)
Columbia College Chicago, Winner - Faculty Development Award (2001)
Detroit Symphony, Finalist - African American Composers Competition - Buffalo Soldiers (2000)
Lancaster Symphony Composers Award, 38th Recipient - for contributions to American Music, (1999)
Illinois Arts Council, Composer Fellowship Award, Recipient (1999)
Dictionary of Black Composers - One of 200 composers selected for inclusion (1999)
Columbia College Chicago, Winner - Faculty Development Award (1998)
African American Academy of Arts and Letters, Induction (1996)
Columbia College Chicago, Finalist - Teacher of the Year (1996)
Detroit Symphony, Finalist Black Composers Competition - Symphony For The Sons of Nam (1991)
Savannah Symphony, Winner - Black Composers Competition - Symphony For The Sons of Nam (1991)
League of Black Women The Black Rose Award, Recipient - for service to the community (1989)
Fort Sheridan Photography Contest Winner - Won first and second prize (1983)
Founder and Director of The United States Vietnam Arts Program with a mission to: provide opportunities for artists from Viet Nam and the United States to work collaboratively on artistic projects; to offer encouragement and support for the collaborative process particularly across cultural boundaries; and to bring together new and existing audiences to discover or rediscover the cultural and artistic traditions of both countries.
-Produced a USVAP fund-raising event raising $4,000.00 (2006)
-Produced a USVAP fund-raising event raising $14,000.00 (2005)
Wrote grants and solicited contributions:
-Awarded an Illinois Arts Council grant $30,000.00 (2007)
-Awarded a Dance Theater Workshop Grant $8,000.00
-Awarded a Northwestern University series of project grants totaling $23,000.00
-Awarded an Illinois Arts Council grant $15,000.00 (2002)
-Awarded an Illinois Arts Council grant for $7,500 (2001)
United States Service Organization (USO) - Board member
National Association Record Industry Professionals (NARIP)
Project Management Institute (current)
The Chicago Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences - Past Governor /Vice President and current member.
National Music Publishers Association, (NMPA) - One Omik Music Publisher member
Broadcast Music Incorporated BMI, - Writer/Publisher member
Chicago Youth Symphony - Past board member
National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum -Past board member
National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) - Past member
International Association of Jazz Educators - Past member [to top]
Military History:
Bandmaster Commander - United States Army Reserve Warrant Officer and Commander of the 85th Division Reserve Band at Fort Sheridan IL (1989 -1994)
Captain - US Army Administration Corps (1980-1989)
Marketing Officer - For the Chicago Recruiting District of the US Army Recruiting initiatives:
Responsibilities included developing marketing strategies, evaluating advertising efforts and recommending alternative advertising to include media buys for specific markets (1983-1986)
US Army Bandsman - Performed on guitar, electric bass and percussion as a musician for the US Army (1978-1980)
Viet Nam Veteran - Combat Engineer (1970-1971)
Received Vietnam Cross of Gallantry awarded by the Vietnam Government and a US Army medal for work as a music performer for troops stationed in remote fighting locations [to top]
James Kimo Williams Email: kimo@omik.com Web: www.omik.com