Cole Williams
University of Tulsa
Overview
Cole Williams is a composer, arranger, and educator from Guthrie, Oklahoma. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Oklahoma State University, and a Master of Music in Music Performance from the University of Arkansas. Currently, Cole is the Adjunct Professor of Percussion at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In this capacity, he works with the Sound of the Golden Hurricane Marching Band, directs the TU Percussion Ensemble, teaches private lessons, and instructs a Percussion Methods class for Music Education majors.
A diverse arranger noted for his musicality and professionalism, Cole writes for distinguished groups around the country. Working with top wind arrangers in the activity such as Will Pitts, Steve Vento, Ben Lee, Alex Thode, Michael Miller, Ryan George, Craig Fitzpatrick, Scott Ward, Andrew Anderson, Luke McMillan, John Georgeson, and more, his work has been featured by winning ensembles in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
As a performer, Cole has had the privilege of playing in several respected ensembles at Oklahoma State University and the University of Arkansas. He has performed at the Oklahoma Music Educator's Association Winter Convention, the College Orchestra Director's Association Convention, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the Collegiate Band Directors National Association Convention, and the Japan Band Clinic. Professionally, Cole has performed as a member of the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera Fayetteville. In addition to his activity in the concert percussion realm, Cole is also an avid marching percussion enthusiast, and spent two summers with The Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps (2012-13) as a quad player.
Cole is a sought after educator in the marching percussion realm. He is the Executive Director of Resistance Indoor Percussion and the Battery Coordinator for Collinsville High School. In addition to these roles, Cole has served as a Percussion Instructor for several high schools, including Alma High School, Guthrie High School, Stillwater High School, and Yukon High School. He has also served as the Caption Head of the Oklahoma State University Winter Drumline, a group designed to help high school and college students polish their rudimental skills. From 2014-16, Cole spent three seasons as the Assistant Percussion Caption Head/Tenor Technician for the Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps. Most recently, Cole was the instructor for the University of Arkansas Razorback Drumline.
Cole Williams is a Vic Firth Educator, Pearl/Adams Regional Educational Artist, Zildjian Education Artist, a Remo Education Artist, and a member of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS).