ABOUT

Zoe Imani Willingham is a classically trained performer, educator, and jazz violinist. She is a Jacobs School of Music alumna and will continue into her masters at IU, double majoring in Violin Performance/Jazz Studies. After over a decade of dedication, her love for music has not died. Her natural enthusiasm for music married with a diligent work ethic has allowed her to make remarkable achievements and discover her greatest passions: sharing her love of music through performing and teaching.

She is a product of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program. During her fellowship (2017-2020), she frequently performed in solo recitals, orchestra, and chamber music concerts. Most notably, in 2020 the University of Georgia invited her to perform at the building naming ceremony of Mary Frances Early, the college’s first African American graduate. She served as a leader in her community orchestras and chamber groups and placed in competitions such as the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity 2020 Talent Hunt Competition and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra Scholarship Competition.

Zoe’s involvement in education began in 2020. The process of helping a student grow in their musical journey entranced her, and since then, she has worked with students of all ages teaching both classical and jazz. Zoe was the lead instructor at a non-profit organization, Henry for Music, in Stockbridge, GA; she taught virtually for Golden Fiddles Studio, located in North Carolina; she currently works at Melody Music Shop, a local music store in Bloomington, IN. Her teaching extends to all musicians through her book: “Practice Journal: A Mindful Guide for Musicians" and her guide “Thinking Like an Athlete: A String Musician’s Guide to Warm Up and Cool Down.”

Outside of teaching and performing music, she regularly dances Lindy Hop, a style of swing dancing that sprung from the big band, swing style of the 1930s. She teaches classes for the IU Swing Dance Club, has made finals and placed in Lindy Hop competitions across the country, and aspires to one day provide music for the swing dance community.