Will Alderman

A photo of Will Alderman

Assistant Professor of Percussion

Music

334 Alexander

734.487.0330

[email protected]

Biography

Will Alderman (b. 1990) currently serves as Assistant Professor of Percussion at Eastern Michigan University. Previously, he has served as Assistant Professor of Percussion & Music theory at Northwest Missouri State University, an instructor at Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, Washington & Lee University, Kalamazoo College, and as a graduate teaching assistant at James Madison University.

As a multi-instrumentalist, performer, and composer, Will has performed in a variety of mediums worldwide. Currently, he performs with his quartet, Without Borders, which has recorded and released its very own marimba quartet transcription of Béla Bartok’s String Quartet No. 5. The ensemble has toured with the work; performing in Taiwan, Japan, and throughout the United States. Without Borders has premiered several of their own works including Will’s new composition, "Farewell to Shadowlands," for percussion ensemble and acoustic guitar, and “The Beginning of the End of the World” for mallet quartet. In addition to his quartet, Will has had the privilege of performing with several world-renowned artists such as Gordon Stout, Casey Cangelosi, Valerie Naranjo, and Gif Howarth. In competition, Will was awarded 2nd Place in the Open-Duo Division of the 2022 Great Plains Marimba Competition and 1st Place in the 2023 NABBA Percussion Ensemble Competition.

Composing and arranging music of many styles and instrumentations, Will values expressing creativity through writing. He has served as the percussion arranger for over a dozen marching programs throughout the United States including the Portage Central Marching Band, Genesis Percussion, the Western Michigan University Bronco Marching Band, and the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat Marching Band. He has arranged and composed several solo and ensemble works for percussion with many more on the way. Most recently, Will has composed and released a new book of intermediate-advanced marimba etudes titled, "Etudes for Marimba: Four New Works for the Advancing Marimbist.” Will has released an EP of the works along with video performances that can be found on streaming platforms and his YouTube channel.

Will received his D.M.A. in Music Performance and Pedagogy from James Madison University, M.M. in Music Performance from Ithaca College, and B.M. in Music Performance from Western Michigan University. Will is a member of the Percussive Arts Society.

Will is a proud Artist Endorser of Innovative Percussion products and Educational Endorser of Black Swamp Percussion products, and is a member of the Percussive Arts Society.