Directors
Gaw Vang Williams
Gaw Vang Williams is a vocalist and educator native to Sacramento, California. She is the new band director at Folsom High School and will teach marching band, jazz band A and Jazz Band B, Jazz choir, and orchestra.
She became the director of the vocal jazz program at Sacramento State in 2014, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in jazz studies and Master of Music in voice performance. She began teaching in 2004, serving as a music instructor at various high schools and music organizations. Williams is an active private music instructor and she is sought after as a clinician and adjudicator for festivals and workshops throughout the United States. She was the president of CAJ (California Alliance for Jazz) and is the vocal jazz clinician for the Monterey Jazz Festival.
Williams was a member of the Sacramento Mandarins from 2004-2006 and she was a member of the 2007 world-champion Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. She performs at numerous venues throughout Northern California. Professional appearances as an assisting artist include live performances with Nancy King, New York Voices, Ben Folds, and the San Francisco Symphony.
Ensembles under Gaw have won over 13 Downbeat Magazine Student Awards. In addition, her ensembles took first multiple times at the Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival and were invited to perform at the world-renowned Monterey Jazz Festival, JEN (Jazz Education Network) National Conference, ACDA National Conference, CCDA Conference, and CASMEC.
Williams is the co-founder of Live Performing Arts Academy, a non-profit music organization for providing music education and experiences for students in need.
Tyler Miles
Tyler Miles is a professional musician from Northern California. He is the new assistant band director at Folsom High School. Miles earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies with an emphasis on bass and a Master of Music from Sacramento State. During his time there he received multiple Dowbeats Magazine awards singing with the advanced Sac State vocal jazz ensembles and playing bass in Sac State Grad Combo.
Miles performs regularly throughout California and teaches private lessons on bass, guitar, and piano.