Quotes in the Press

"...Timothy Adams Jr. certainly did so with some brilliant timpani playing in Haydn's Symphony No. 100, "Military." If you think it's odd to highlight a timpanist, you haven't heard Adams. He infuses music -- especially of the classical era -- with such vitality with his aggressive approach. The propulsive "Military" symphony is a perfect place for that, and later he was joined by the rest of the percussion section for the famous Turkish percussion battery that enters in the second movement. ..."

—Andrew Druckenbrod,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
05/19/07

"Adams produced a miraculously evocative performance. He is a fabulous musician with great hands. The assurance and sensitivity with which he played on a host of instruments requiring different touch was staggering."

—Mark Kanny, Classical Music Critic
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
10/12/01

Alfred Zimmerlin of Neue Zürcher Zeitung posed the question, "Can an American orchestra sound as Russian as the work demands?" He then answered it, "Under Jansons direction the PSO could and did, with mind-boggling brass, the power of which was not deafening, with excellent woodwind soloists, with a first-class timpanist, and with strings who knew how to forge a homogeneous sound."

—Lucerne Festival

"...even drums can be noisy or quiet, as Pittsburgh symphony percussionist Tim Adams shows different ways he uses drums to express his feelings."

—Neighborhood News
Family Communications
Mister Rogers Neighborhood

" Adams was a wonder to behold,as he played with aplomb both timpani and tibetan prayer bowls in the motivic 1st movement, bongo cadenza in the more pointillist 2nd movement and chimes offstage in the last."

—Hartford Courant

"Principal timpanist Timothy Adams offered a rare display of power and form."

—Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Quotes from Professionals

"The precision and clarity of Tim Adam's sound is something you have to hear to believe. I remember recording the music for the movie "Caveman's Valentine" thinking about how in certain scenes the entire orchestra was driven by one man on perc (Tim Adams). His power and control not only gave pulse to the orch, but it also gave it attitude as well. The next thing I realized was the broad pallet of musical styles and ideas that he is very comfortable with. Switching between Classical, Jazz and R&B is as easy as changing hats for Tim. Rarely does a musician possess all these qualities with such command. His dedication has gotten him to the point where he is now in his career. His vision will take him to places unheard of and unseen as of yet. It takes a strong willed person to accomplish the things that he has in such a short period of time. I eagerly look forward to being inspired by what he will do next."

—Terence Blanchard