About
Brad Crossland is a New York City based Performer and Educator. Since 2005, Brad has been equally in-demand as a drummer in every genre and setting, musical theatre musician, and orchestral percussionist. He possesses an equal amount of experience as a passionate and enthusiastic private teacher, clinician, and ensemble director.
Brad spent 17 years as a fixture in the midwest, receiving his formal training and building a thriving career, before relocating to New York City with his wife, an Audiologist practicing in Manhattan. He currently manages a full schedule of virtual and in-person private students and music classes, and a busy performance schedule.
Education
M.M. - Western Michigan University
B.M. - Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
During his EARLY EDUCATION, Brad studied percussion and drumset under Fort Wayne, IN master Larry Ford and Kent Klee, and was a member of the Homestead High School front ensemble and drumline
Brad received his BACHELORS degree in music performance (percussion) from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, studying with Braham Dembar (now Principal Percussionist for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, professor of percussion at Ball State University) and Eric Schweikert (timpanist for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, professor of percussion at IPFW, lecturer at University of Michigan).
Percussion Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Community Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, several Faculty Ensembles
Premiered and recorded several compositions, both on campus and at national conventions, with both student and faculty ensembles.
Brad received his MASTERS degree in music performance (dual focus - concert percussion and jazz drumset) from Western Michigan University, studying drumset with Keith Hall, percussion with Judy Moonert, and serving as graduate assistant for the percussion studio.
Principal Timpanist, Principal Percussionist for the University Symphony Orchestra
Director and member of Percussion Ensemble. Member of the Jazz Lab Band, Jazz Combo, new music ensemble Birds On A Wire. numerous other ensembles and choirs as guest artist, numerous undergraduate and graduate recitals.
As Graduate Assistant: instructed Percussion Methods course, guest-lectured in other courses, taught private students. Brad also recorded regularly with several jazz combos at Western Sound Studios. At WMU, Brad was inducted into the national music honor society Pi Kappa Lambda for his musical, academic, and leadership achievements.
Career
Brad has been performing and educating professionally since 2005.
Performer
Past experience: Brad has served as percussionist for musicals at the Wagon Wheel Theatre in Warsaw, Indiana, for multiple seasons, in addition to performing extensively with Warsaw’s Symphony of the Lakes. He served as percussionist for First Congregational United Church of Christ in Angola, Indiana from 2008 to 2019. From 2009 to 2014, Brad was drummer for the regional dance/party bands What She Said & April’s Alibi, and for the wedding and event band Night To Remember from 2014 to 2019. He also served as drummer for the original roots rock/funk band Fernando Tarango & the Wickersham Brothers from 2013 to 2015, and for the eclectic indie group the Hope Arthur Orchestra from 2012 to 2015.
Currently, Brad performs manages a busy schedule of wedding performances through Bluewater Kings band.
Educator
Brad served as drumline and front ensemble instructor for Homestead, Heritage, and Columbia City high schools in northeast Indiana from 2005 to 2008. He taught privately through the IPFW Community Arts Academy in Fort Wayne, Indiana from 2012 to 2019, continuing to do so while residing and completing his masters studies in Kalamazoo, MI. Brad’s graduate assistant duties at WMU involved teaching college courses, guest-lecturing in courses, leading rehearsals, and teaching private students.
Currently, Brad teaches private students at the DEA Music & Art School, and Virtually from his Home Studio. He coaches student-groups and presents master classes annually at the Keith Hall Summer Drum Intensive. He also conducts sectional rehearsals with West Michigan middle and high schools through Marshall Music Co.
Session Work
An accomplished session musician, Brad has recorded on drumset, marimba and auxillary percussion on several occasions at Sweetwater Studios, Digitracks Studios and ResFX Studios, among others, located in Fort Wayne, as well as Western Sound Studios on the campus of WMU. Recordings he has appeared in range from classical to jazz, and from independent to major-label releases.