Adam Groh

Western Carolina University

Adam Groh, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, is a percussionist with a diverse performing and teaching background who is committed to community engagement and amplifying marginalized voices in the music world. He is an ardent supporter of new music, and has commissioned and premiered dozens of new works for solo and chamber percussion. In 2020, Adam created the EVERYBODY HITS project and led a group of 45 percussion programs across the United States to commission six new works for percussion ensemble centered on diversity and accessibility. He has recently been invited to perform at the Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn, NY, the Banff Centre for the Arts in Banff, Canada, Fast Forward Austin, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, SEAMUS, the International Computer Music Conference, and Electronic Music Midwest. As an active chamber musician, Adam has performed alongside So Percussion, members of the Bang on a Can All-Stars, and with the Austin Chamber Music Center. He was also a featured performer with the Denkyem Percussion Group in the “Promising Artists of the 21st Century” festival hosted by the North American Cultural Center, Costa Rica.

As an orchestral musician, Adam has performed with the North Carolina Symphony, Asheville Symphony, Des Moines Symphony, Brevard Philharmonic, Round Rock Symphony, Victoria Symphony, Tallahassee Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony, and Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestras. He also performed in the Ringling International Arts Festival under the baton of Maestro Robert Spano.

Adam’s playing can be heard on Jason Treuting’s Nine Numbers and the Cage 100: Bootleg Series by So Percussion (both on Cantaloupe Records), as well as multiple releases through Naxos and Garnet House Productions. His original compositions have been published through C. Alan Publications and Bachovich Music Publications, and he has published articles in both Percussive Notes, the official research journal of the Percussive Arts Society, and Rhythm! Scene.

In addition to his regular teaching duties, Adam has presented clinics at events such as The Midwest Clinic, the Texas, Kansas, Minnesota, and Iowa Music Educators Association Conventions, and multiple PAS-sponsored Days of Percussion. Currently, Adam serves on the Diversity Alliance and the University Pedagogy Committee for the Percussive Arts Society, and is a former President of the North Carolina and Iowa Chapters of PAS.

Adam is currently Assistant Professor of Percussion at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Prior to arriving at CCM, he served as Associate Professor of Percussion at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Under his direction, the WCU Percussion Ensemble was invited to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and his students earned professional appointments and entry into outstanding graduate programs across the United States. Adam received his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Percussion Performance at The University of Texas at Austin, his Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from The Florida State University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Truman State University. His primary teachers include: Dr. Thomas Burritt, Dr. John W. Parks IV, Dr. Michael Bump, and Will James of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Adam is a proud endorser of Pearl Drums/Adams Musical Instruments, Vic Firth sticks and mallets, Remo Drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, Black Swamp Percussion, and Beetle Percussion.

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