Chris McWilliams is currently a freelance percussionist in New York City. He has most recently performed as a percussion substitute for “Beetlejuice” on Broadway, and as a drum set substitute for Off-Broadway productions of “Titanique” and “White Girl in Danger.” He has also performed at Carnegie Hall and Paper Mill Playhouse, been a part of three new musical premiers, and regularly performs at famed NYC venues such as 54 Below, The Cutting Room, The Bitter End, and Joe’s Pub. Chris previously held positions as Adjunct Professor of Percussion at the University of Texas at Tyler, Interim Instructor of Percussion at the University of North Texas, and spent two years as a member of the touring performance group Dallas Brass. A native of Philadelphia, PA, Chris moved to Orlando, FL in 2004 and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Music Education Degree from the University of Central Florida. He completed his Doctoral Degree in Percussion Performance at the University of North Texas, where he also received his Master’s Degree in 2011 and served as a Graduate Teaching Fellow for five years. Chris performed for two years as a musician in Walt Disney World, served as principal percussionist with the UNT Wind Symphony for three years, and has won the UCF Performance Excellence Competition. Chris has served on percussion staff for the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, and has been an active performer, educator, and adjudicator in both the Orlando and Dallas/Fort Worth areas. He is an endorsing artist for Pearl/Adams instruments and Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets.