Gaw Vang Williams is a vocalist, educator, and music director native to Sacramento, California. She has served as the Director of the Vocal Jazz Program at Sacramento State since 2014, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and Master of Music in Voice Performance. She also holds a Master of Arts in Education. Williams began her teaching career in 2004 and has since served as a music educator at high schools, universities, and music organizations. She is an active private music instructor and is sought after as a clinician and adjudicator for festivals, workshops, and music programs throughout the United States.

 

Williams currently serves on the board of the California Alliance for Jazz (CAJ). She previously served as a vocal educator for the Monterey Jazz Festival’s school clinics and summer camp and continues to be active in jazz education and performance throughout California.

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Williams was a member of the Sacramento Mandarins from 2004–2006 and a member of the 2007 World Champion Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. She performs regularly throughout Northern California. Her professional performance credits include appearances with Nancy King, the New York Voices, Ben Folds, and the San Francisco Symphony.

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Under Williams’ direction, the Sacramento State Vocal Jazz Program has received multiple DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards. The Sac State vocal jazz ensembles have also earned multiple first-place finishes at the Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival in the collegiate vocal jazz ensemble category and have been invited to perform at the world-renowned Monterey Jazz Festival. The ensembles have also performed at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) National Conference, ACDA National Conference, California Choral Directors Association (CCDA) Conference, and CASMEC.

 

Williams is also the Band Director at Folsom High School, where she teaches marching band, advanced jazz band, intermediate jazz band, jazz choir, and orchestra. She is the co-founder of Live Performing Arts Academy, a nonprofit music organization dedicated to providing music education, performance opportunities, and meaningful musical experiences for students in need.