| Roger Braun |
| Director - Percussion Studies |
|
Braun’s performance experience demonstrates great diversity and spans the idioms of contemporary, classical, jazz, popular, and world music. He has performed with many well-known and diverse artists including Keiko Abe, Lyle Mays, Kathleen Battle, Billy Taylor, Bob Mintzer, and Ghanaian master xylophonist Bernard Woma. His performances can be heard on CD recordings that highlight his breadth of skills in contemporary percussion ensemble, straight-ahead jazz, and classical chamber music. As a classical percussionist, Braun has worked with many notable conductors and orchestras, including principal percussion positions with the Lansing and Ohio Valley Symphonies. As a freelance musician he has been in demand throughout the Midwest and performed as percussionist for Broadway touring show productions including Beauty and the Beast, Titanic, and Ragtime . Additionally, he is an active performer of African, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian music. Braun is a founding member of Biakuye , an African music and dance ensemble; solo marimbist / percussionist in Los Viejos Blanquitos , a latin jazz ensemble; and member of the New World Percussion Duo . In the Spring of 2003 he performed with marimbist Keiko Abe and the percussion quintet, Galaxy , in a three week tour of Japan. Professor Braun earned his Bachelor of Music degree in performance with highest honors from the University of Michigan and his Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music. Additional information about Professor Braun and the program at Ohio can be found at: www.rogerbraunpercussion.com |