Taken from a performance of Matthew Burtner’s Song for Low Tree at the Spring Street Firehouse, Birmingham, AL. 2016.
About Me
A few years ago I went on a small solo tour called The “I hit things and call it art” Tour. It was a great little string of concerts with an awesome name, but also implied a subtle joke: How crazy is it that I am able to hit things for a living! I honestly still don’t believe it sometimes, but I am definitely grateful that I have followed this path throughout my career.
My continued pursuit of percussion has allowed me to connect with people from all walks of life through my work as a performer and educator due to the vast musical situations which involve percussion instruments. As an artist, I am continuously fascinated by the many sounds and timbres available for musical expression which I have explored in my own solo work and with my percussion trio Three by Radio.
In addition to my exploration in the classical repertoire, percussion has also allowed me to pursue a vast array of world music styles including Cuban/Haitian percussion, Ghanaian percussion, Brazilian percussion, Himalayan percussion, Indian tabla, Chinese opera, Trinidadian steel pans, and jazz vibraphone.
As an educator, I have taught as a graduate assistant at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, Georgia State University, and The Hartt School of Music. I currently teach as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of North Alabama and as the Director of Percussion at Daphne High School. I have also recently traveled abroad to Panamá City, Panamá, where I was the guest artist and clinician for the Percussive Arts Society’s Panamá Day of Percussion.
My teachers have included Jim Culley/Percussion Group Cincinnati at The University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, Dr. Stuart Gerber/Charles Settle at Georgia State University, Ben Toth at The Hartt School of Music, and Dr. Michael Sammons at The University of South Alabama. My world music teachers have included Dr. Stefan Fiol (Himalayan Drumming), Jim Feist (Indian Tabla), Russell Burge (Steel Pan and Jazz Vibraphone), Rogerio Boccato (Brazilian percussion), John Amira (Cuban and Haitian percussion), Joe Galeota (Ghanaian percussion), and Ben Toth (Steel Pan).
Performing Pheasants Traveling Through the Mountains, a traditional Chinese piece with Ben Toth, Jianpeng Feng, and Elliot Wallace (not pictured) at The Hartt School of Music. 2012.