Jaxon Williams
School of Music alumnus Jaxon Williams has been awarded a Fulbright Arts Study Grant for 2015/2016. He will move to Seville, Spain, to study Spanish guitar repertoire with a renowned concert guitarist at Universidad Pablo de Olavide and flamenco guitar at Fundacion Cristina Heeren, one of the city's top flamenco schools.
When Williams visited Spain years ago, he was impressed by the amount of passion in the guitar music he heard there and wanted to bring that knowledge back to the United States. Spanish music is very closely tied to the history of classical guitar itself, which influenced Williamss choice of research topic for the Fulbright application: Study of Spanish guitar repertoire, performance practice, and technique in Seville, Spain. He was selected for this prestigious grant by both a U.S. national committee and an international committee in Spain.
"Jaxon has what it takes to be successful: talent, a great work ethic and innovative thinking," says professor of guitar Frank Koonce. "These traits, together with his friendly and outgoing personality, will take him far."
Following completion of his year on the Fulbright grant, Williams wants to enroll in a doctoral program and plans to apply to Arizona State University.