Timothy Adams was named Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Timpani beginning with the 1995-96 season. He was born in Georgia and received his early musical training there. While in high school, he started his professional career by playing as a substitute in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he received both his Bachelor's degree in Music and Master's degree in Percussion.

After receiving his Bachelor's degree Mr. Adams played in a rock band, "Exotic Birds," which recorded two albums and a music video for MTV. While studying in Cleveland he played substitute keyboard, percussion and timpani with the Cleveland Orchestra.

Having spent two summers at the Tanglewood Music Festival, Mr. Adams played under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Masur, Seiji Ozawa, Eliot Carter and Leon Fleisher, among others. He has played solo performances with the Atlanta Symphony and the Florida Philharmonic and also has recorded with the Cleveland Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, where he was appointed principal timpanist in 1991.

Mr. Adams recently appeared on the award-winning children's television show, "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." In an episode entitled "Noisy and Quiet" he demonstrated various percussion instruments for children. Mr. Adams currently serves on the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.