DrumUltimA

A lolrus from the medieval times. His music has traveled across the seven seas, reaching many ears. Takes horrible pictures. --- Multi-percussionist and composer Doug Perry has made it his mission to blur the lines of genre and allow musics of all styles and backgrounds to share the same stage. Originally a jazz drummer and vibraphonist, Doug has expanded his studies to include classical percussion, electronic music, and even commercial music production. As the son of the principal violist and principal tuba player of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Doug has been surrounded with music for his entire life. He began to study seriously at 8 years of age, choosing to play percussion (despite his parents best efforts to keep him from this discipline). Shortly thereafter he began taking piano lessons, and almost immediately began toying with improvisation and composition. Under the tutelage of saxophonist John Mastroianni, Doug began his education in jazz in 2001 at Hall High School in West Hartford, Connecticut—a school widely recognized for producing some of the most successful jazz musicians of our time, including such names as Brad Mehldau, Joel Frahm and Richie Barshay. Doug also studied with vibraphonist Nick Mancini in New York City. In the summers of 2004 and 2005, Doug attended the Skidmore Jazz Institute, where he studied with drum set legend Ed Shaughnessy and composer John Labarbra. Also in the summer of 2005, Doug attended the Litchfield Jazz Camp with a full scholarship, studying with an expansive faculty which included saxophonist Kris Allen and bassist John Benitez. In the fall of 2005, Doug began his studies at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he studied classical percussion in the studios of both Jonathan Haas and Robert Van Sice. He has also studied jazz with drummer Howard Curtis, saxophonist Gary Thomas, guitarist Paul Bollenback, and pianist Tim Murphy. Doug has also had brief study in computer music with MacGregor Boyle, composition with Steve Stone, and music education with Harlan Parker and Cherie Stellaccio. Doug has competed in the 2004 Berklee Jazz Festival, winning both Outstanding Soloist and Judges Choice awards for his vibraphone playing. He was also invited to participate in New York at the Essentially Ellington Competition with the Hall High School Concert Jazz Band. In 2007 he was the sole recipient of the PAS/Yamaha Terry Gibbs Vibraphone Scholarship. While studying at Peabody, Doug has performed with the Wind Ensemble, Concert Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Camerata, Jazz Orchestra, Lab Band, Latin Jazz Band, Percussion Group and Opera Department, playing orchestral percussion, improvising on vibraphone, playing hand drums, timpani, and more. He has also had a piece performed by the Computer Music Department. In April 2008, Doug played vibraphone on a world premiere written for the Opera Etudes program, where composition students write short opera scenes for selected singers. Doug was recently invited back to perform with the Hall High School almuni combo, where he played along side such almuni as Richie Barshay, Noah Preminger, Joel Frahm, Greg Kallor, and Kris Allen. Doug has also performed with Jack Brokensha, John Mastroianni, Ji Hye Jung, Gary Thomas, Dave Samuels, Randy Brecker, and has performed in masterclasses with Tom Freer, Jonathan Haas, Robert van Sice, So Percussion, Curtis Fuller, Todd Coolman, and Terrell Stafford. Doug is currently enrolled at the Peabody Institute of Music, as a fifth year student in the studio of Robert van Sice. He currently freelances locally in both Baltimore and West Hartford as a jazz vibraphonist, drum set player, timpanist, and more. He also freelances as a video game composer, having received commissions from as far as Germany. He teaches a private percussion studio in his home in West Hartford during the summers, and is currently a teaching assistant for the Peabody Jazz Department, where he tutors students, hosts jam sessions, and substitute teaches classes. When Doug is not playing, he enjoys working out, studying (and consequently playing) video games, patrolling the internet, remixing video game music, observing weather, and cooking. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.