Trumpet

B.M., in Performance, Southeastern Louisiana University; M.M., in Performance, Howard University; G.P.D., currently pursuing, The Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University. As an educator, Woods has been on the faculty of The Coppin State University and KIPP: Ujima Village Academy, named the highest performing middle school in Baltimore City. Woods has distinguished himself as an extremely versatile musician, performing throughout the United States and Japan, in several different genres including classical, jazz, pop, and commercial music. Woods has performed in concert with The Coasters, The Drifters, John Legend, K.D. Lang, Vanessa Williams, The Washington Chorus, and several others.

While in graduate school, Woods was a member of the world renowned Howard University Jazz Ensemble. While a member, Woods performed in concert with several notable jazz musicians including, Wallace Roney, Benny Golson, Fred Wesley, Bill Pierce, Billy Taylor, Shunzo Ohno, and Bill Hughes. Woods has performed in concert on The John F. Kennedy Honors, viewed on CBS television. Upon his arrival to the Baltimore/Washington area, Woods has had freelance performance engagements at Wolftrap, Strathmore, and The Smithsonian Museum of The American Indian.

Woods has been the recipient of several academic and performance scholarships and honors including, The Ivan Earle Taylor Academic Scholarship, Graduate Teaching Assistantship, (Howard University), and an Instrumental Performance Scholarship, The Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University. Woods holds membership with The International Trumpet Guild, MENC, MMEA, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America Inc. Woods’ major teachers are Bryan Depoy, Fred Irby III, Edward Hoffman, and Joe Burgstaller.