Mariam Adam's remarkable career was built on a blissful childhood in Monterey, California, with supportive parents and teachers encouraging her to pursue new learning opportunities. At age 8, Adam began playing clarinet in a public youth program. She added drums in middle school, which led to her getting work as a jazz drummer even before college.
Her fond memories include a summer youth orchestra affiliated with the prestigious Eastman Music School. "As a teenager, I was invited to speak on stage at sponsored performances," Adam says. "I quickly understood the importance of building supportive audiences for live performances and funding music education."
Adam went on to earn a master of music in clarinet performance from the Manhattan School of Music. She was a founder of Imari Winds, a Grammy-nominated woodwind quintet that spurred growth in classical concert attendance and musicians of color.
Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock are among the jazz luminaries Adam has performed with through the years while living in New York and Paris. As a touring artist, she taught master classes at top conservatories around the world.
Adam's vibrant and passionate personality has been a driving force in her teaching and advocacy for music. "As a woman of color, I've embraced the power of my voice, even as I've learned that, in some cultures, speaking up can be perceived in unexpected ways," she says. "Still, I remain committed to using my voice to inspire and uplift others."
Adam became an assistant professor of clarinet at the Blair School of Music in 2021. "This is an opportune time for me to be at Vanderbilt, which provides a strong institutional foundation for my work," she says.
Her Blair collaborations include one with Michael Alec Rose on a commissioned work scheduled to premiere April 19 at Vanderbilt Ingram Hall. This summer she will unveil a concerto written by Russell Platt at the Maverick Concerts in Woodstock, New York.
One of Adam's more unusual collaborations is with the School of Engineering-designing a product to make playing the clarinet more efficient. She only had to take a short walk across campus for meetings about the technical aspects.
She is also recording an album of new and beloved chamber music with collaborator and Grammy-winning flutist Valerie Coleman, with whom she performed in Imari Winds.
"My choice projects benefit my students while requiring me to take risks musically and collaboratively," Adam says. "Working a little outside one's comfort zone is what it takes to stay relevant today, and hopefully to build a legacy discovered by future generations."
