Profile

Gaw Vang Williams is a vocalist and educator native to Sacramento, California. 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 currently serves as the president of CAJ (California Alliance for Jazz) and was the vocal jazz traveling clinician for the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Williams 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.

Under Williams' direction, the Sac State Vocal Jazz program has won 13 Downbeat Magazine Student Awards. In addition, the Sac State vocal jazz ensembles took first multiple times at the Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival in the collegiate vocal jazz ensemble category.  The ensembles were invited to perform at the world-renowned Monterey Jazz Festival.  The vocal jazz ensembles performed at the JEN (Jazz Education Network) National Conference, ACDA National Conference, CCDA Conference, and CASMEC.