J. Jerome Williams

b. 1938

J. Jerome Williams is a native of Morganton, North Carolina where his high school band director was noted North Carolina composer, M. Thomas Cousins. Mr. Williams studied music at Mars Hill College (AA), East Carolina, and Appalachian State University (BS, MA), all in North Carolina. He was band and choral director at Hildebran High School, Cultural Arts Coordinator for the Burke Co. Public Schools North Carolina), and choral director at East Burke High School before retiring in 1994 after 32 years in the county school system. Following his retirement he taught at Mars Hill College and continues to work with the Choral Festival there.

Mr. Williams was selected as the 1982-83 North Carolina Teacher of the Year and spent the year traveling the state promoting public education. He received the Lara Hoggard Award from the NC-ACDA in 1991 for Distinguished Service in Choral Music in North Carolina. He is a member of numerous professional organizations and continues to be active in choral music as a guest conductor and in assisting groups and directors on a request basis.

Mr. Williams has over 45 years experience as a church choir director. In 2007, he retired from First United Methodist Church in Hickory after 31 years of service. The church awarded him the title Chancel Choir Director Emeritus.

In addition to MorningStar Music Publishers, he has pieces published with Shawnee/Harold Flammer, Brodt, Hope, and Hinshaw. A Parting Blessing has been the most successful with over 200,000 copies sold. In June of 2009 it was performed at Carnegie Hall by a choir of app. 700 voices as part of the 70th Anniversary Gala of Shawnee Press. The piece is designated a Shawnee Classic.

Mr. Williams also represents Witte Travel and Tours of Grand Rapids, Michigan in arranging European concert and sightseeing tours for church, school, college, and community groups. He and his wife, Susan, live in Valdese, North Carolina.