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Dan Kennedy, percussion • (916) 278-7988 • Send Email

Daniel Kennedy holds a masters degree in music from California Institute of the Arts, and a doctoral degree in percussion performance from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, studying with multi-percussionist Raymond DesRoches, hand-drum specialist John Bergamo, and tabla master Swapan Chaudhuri.  Daniel has been the founding member of several contemporary music ensembles, including the California E.A.R. Unit and the Talujon Percussion Quartet, and has performed throughout the United States, Europe, India, Bali, and Japan.  His recent concert appearances include performances of Steven Mackey’s Micro-Concerto at the Kennedy Center and the Los Angeles County Museum, a performance with the So Percussion Quartet at the 2005 Other Minds Festival, and as a soloist for “Day of Percussion” events at UN Omaha, Queens College, and SOU Ashland.  Daniel is featured as a percussion soloist for the California Arts Council Touring Program, and has recorded for the Musical Heritage Society, Koch International, New Albion, Bridge, Centaur, Harmonia Mundi, CRI, and New World Records.  Currently a member of the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players and Gamelan Sekar Jaya, he resides in Sacramento, California, where he is the director of Percussion Studies at Sacramento State.

The percussion program at CSUS, chaired by Dr. Daniel Kennedy, offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Master of Music degrees in percussion performance. Excellent facilities are provided for this diverse program, in which the percussionist may explore a variety of repertoire through participation in the University Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. Through private instruction, the program provides intensive study of the snare drum, timpani, mallet keyboards, and multiple percussion, as well as hand-drum classes in Indian tabla and Middle Eastern percussion. In addition to the study of percussion ensemble literature, orchestral excerpts, contemporary chamber music, and ethnic percussion, the student will be exposed to a variety of solo literature, in preparation for recital performances. The musically rewarding environment at CSU Sacramento will provide the percussionist with the technical skills, musical knowledge, and artistic ability required to meet the variety of musical demands encountered in the professional world today.