Jay Ware is an award-winning performing artist, educator, composer, and arranger whose consummate versatility has garnered the praise of musical giants such as David Baker and Eric Ewazen. His performing/recording credits include: Grammy Award winner Dee Stewart, Pulitzer-Prize winner Gunther Schuller, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Mary Wilson and The Supremes, Emmy winner and Jazz legend David Baker, Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame member Bob Becker, Grammy Award nominees Jack Wilkins and Chuck Owen, opera diva and Grammy Award contributing artist Marietta Simpson, The Buselli/Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, Mike Vax, Rick Simerly, Steve Houghton, Carroll Dashiell Jr., Tom Walsh, Everett Greene, Pat Harbison, Dominic Spera, Dalores King Williams, Luke Gillespie, the Broyhill Chamber Orchestra, the New York Brass Quintet, the Bloomington Pops Orchestra, and many others. He has performed at conventions and festivals including the American Bandmasters Association, Music Educators National Conference, Percussive Arts Society Days of Percussion, New Trier Jazz Festival, Spoleto Music Festival, Appalachian Summer Music Festival, as well as special appearances on various television and radio broadcasts. In 2007, he founded the Jay Ware Quintet (JWQ) which has performed throughout the nation, including residencies at the Williamston Jazz Gala and the Tri-State Select Honor Jazz Ensemble.

In addition to his performing credits, Mr. Ware is equally active as an educator and advocate for music education in school curricula. He is currently the Associate Director of Bands at West Liberty University where he directs the “Pride of the Hill” Marching Hilltoppers, Pep Band, Percussion Ensemble, and teaches applied percussion. He has served as Associate Instructor in the Jazz Department at Indiana University, Director of Concert Band, Basketball Bands, and Graduate Assistant for the Marching Mountaineers at Appalachian State University, Instructor for the Musical Arts Youth Orchestra Jazz Program (IN), Director of Bands at South Lenoir High School (NC), as well as Marching Percussion Arranger/Instructor for over 30 high schools. He is in high demand as a classical and jazz performing artist, guest conductor, adjudicator, marching clinician, and music advocate, and has offered masterclasses at universities and schools all over the nation. Mr. Ware has been twice nominated for Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, is a winner of the Appalachian State University Concerto/Aria Competition, and was nominated for the prestigious Performers Certificate at Indiana University.

Mr. Ware is Vice President of the West Virginia Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and Site Host for the 2010 WV PAS Day of Percussion (May 1, 2010 at WLU). He is an endorsing artist for:

Yamaha percussion instruments, Remo drumheads and world percussion instruments, and Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets.