Hello and Welcome
I teach all levels of percussion, from beginners to professionals; snare drum, keyboard mallet instruments, timpani, drum set, world music and much more. From Abel triangles to Zappa transcriptions, crash cymbals to congas, auditions, recitals, the 3 "B's": whether it's Bach, Beethoven, Brahms or Blakey, Bonham, Beauford . . . all these topics and more are available to you.
NEWS AND EVENTS
Recent and Upcoming Events
Currently, all of my school teaching remains online. This includes the Colburn Community School of Performing Arts,
Cal State Fullerton School of Music, Pasadena City College. For my private at-home lessons, it can now be in-person, online, or a combination of both. I am fully vaccinated, however safety protocols, such as mask wearing, will remain in place.
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2021 Colburn Summer Percussion Workshop--6/14-18 and 6/21-25.
Student Achievements. Congratulations!
Nadav Brandes (Colburn)--2021 SCSBOA All-Southern Middle School Honor Band
Orlando Christian (Colburn)--2020/2021 CYMO, 2021 CA All-State JHS Honor Concert Band
Suri Feng (Colburn)--2021 CA All-State JHS Honor Concert Band, 2021 SCSBOA All-Southern Middle School Honor Band
Jesus Flores--Will be attending UCLA Herb Albert School of Music in Fall 2021
Chris Gaw Gonzalo (Colburn)--2020/2021 Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles, 2021 CA All-State HS Honor Wind Symphony,
2021 SCSBOA All-Southern High School Honor Symphony Orchestra
Rory Hemmings (Colburn)--2021 CA All-State HS Honor Concert Band, 2021 SCSBOA All-Southern High School Honor Wind Ensemble
Anna Kuser (CSPA Alum)--will be attending Berklee College of Music Spring 2021
Leo Smith (Colburn)--2021 SCSBOA All-Southern High School Honor Symphonic Band
Viraj Sonawala (Colburn)--2020/2021 Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles, 2021 CA All-State HS Honor Wind Symphony,
2021 SCBOA All-Southern High School Honor Symphony Orchestra
Truly Zanda (Colburn)--2021 SCSBOA All-Southern High School Honor Wind Ensemble
Past Projects
Pacific Symphony+ Online Concert--Short virtual concert with music for brass and percussion. It was good to be back in a hall...
LA Philharmonic 100 Years Box Set--I was very fortunate to play on several selections from this box set including works by Mussorgsky, Bartok, Stravinsky, Salonen and John Adams.
Pacific Symphony Concert Highlights--A lively performance of the finale of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique from 2019. Rute FTW!!
Across The Starts: Anne-Sophie Mutter and John Williams--This was a very exciting record to be part of. Very fortunate indeed! The percussion section makes a brief appearance around 4:20.
LA Chamber Orchestra Acoustic Caffeine--A short snippet of a performance with Wade Culbreath from August 2017. Chick Corea's Children's Song #11.
...and last but not least...
UCLA Drumline 1988 Spartan Marching Percussion Festival--Yep...went to Chicago in January to compete. Despite all of us warm-weather Bruins freezing, we received 1st place. I had a lot more hair back then.