Jay Ware is an award-winning performing artist and educator whose consummate versatility has garnered the praise of respected musical figures from the late jazz educator David Baker to composer Eric Ewazen. He has performed/recorded with NEA Jazz Master David Liebman; Grammy-winning artists Delfeayo Marsalis and Dee Stewart; Grammy-nominated artists Chris Potter, Donny McCaslin, Jack Wilkins and Chuck Owen; Dove Award winner Rex Carroll; funk legends Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Mary Wilson and The Supremes; Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame member Bob Becker; Pulitzer Prize winner Gunther Schuller; and opera diva Marietta Simpson. He also has performed/recorded with James Carter, Jason Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon, Mark Rapp, Tony DeSare, Deana Martin, the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, Charleston Jazz Orchestra, Broyhill Chamber Ensemble, Charleston Symphony, Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, New York Brass Quintet and many others.
Mr. Ware has performed at numerous festivals and conventions, including Spoleto Festival USA, Piccolo Spoleto Festival, South Carolina Jazz Festival, ColaJazz Festival, Charlotte Jazz Festival, University of Mary Jazz Festival, New Trier Jazz Festival, American Bandmasters Association Convention, College Band Directors National Association Conference, Music Educators National Conference, Percussive Arts Society Days of Percussion and An Appalachian Summer Festival. He also has made special appearances on various television and radio broadcasts. In 2007, Mr. Ware began forming and writing for his own groups, which have performed throughout the nation, including residencies at various colleges/universities.
In addition to his performance and recording credits, Mr. Ware is equally active as an educator and advocate for music in school curricula. He is Coordinator of Percussion and Drum Set Studies at Liberty University's School of Music in Virginia. Mr. Ware has served on faculty at the University of South Carolina, South Carolina State University, West Liberty University (WV) and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. In addition to his collegiate teaching experience, Mr. Ware previously held the position of Director of Bands at South Lenoir High School (NC) and has served as a marching percussion arranger/instructor for over 30 high schools.
With over 75 performances each year, he is in high demand as a versatile performing/recording artist, guest conductor, adjudicator and music advocate, and he has offered master classes at universities and schools nationwide. Mr. Ware has been a recipient of Who's Who Among America's Teachers multiple times, and he is a winner of the Appalachian State University Concerto/Aria Competition. In addition, he was nominated for the prestigious Performer's Certificate while at Indiana University. Mr. Ware has served as Vice President of the West Virginia Chapter of PAS and was site coordinator for the 2010 West Virginia PAS Day of Percussion. He is an endorsing artist for Yamaha, Innovative Percussion, Latin Percussion, Remo and Zildjian.
