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Will Champion is a freelance percussionist and educator based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. As a timpanist and percussionist, his recent performing experience includes the Minnesota Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Chicago Philharmonic, and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. He held the position of Section Percussionist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic in Poughkeepsie, NY during the 2017-2018 season. His performing and teaching work has taken him to ten states in the US, as well as a solo performance in the Netherlands at the TROMP International Percussion Competition. As an advocate of contemporary music, Will and his wife, Waichi, commissioned a new work for percussion duo, titled “Vim”, by retired Metropolitan Opera timpanist, Duncan Patton.
Currently, Will is an adjunct professor at East Texas A&M University in Commerce, TX. He also maintains a busy private studio in Plano. Recently, he was an adjunct professor of percussion at Tarrant County College and worked for Frisco ISD as a lesson teacher. His high school students have gone on to attend Vanderbilt University, University of North Texas, University of Texas-Austin, East Texas A&M University, and Lawrence University. Mr. Champion’s students have also consistently placed in the Great Plains International Marimba Competition, Percussive Arts Society International Convention solo competitions, and also TMEA All State/All Region Band.
Will received his BM in Percussion Performance from Northwestern University and his MM in Percussion Performance from the University of South Carolina. His past teachers include Dr. Scott Herring, Christopher Lamb, Duncan Patton, Kyle Zerna, She-e Wu, James Ross, Vadim Karpinos, John R. Beck, Rick Dior, Rick Fischer, and Charlotte Judge (piano).
Will is married to fellow percussionist Waichi Champion. They enjoy arranging music of all genres for percussion duo, watching baseball, cooking, and spending time with their three pets, Wally, Eva, and Yuna. Together, they established Wichi Percussion, an innovative percussion accessory company.