Kevin Garry is currently entering his 32nd season as Section Percussionist with the Jacksonville Symphony, where one of his primary duties is drum set. During his tenure with the orchestra, he has played drums for a wide array of artists such as Clay Aiken, the Canadian Brass, Judy Collins, Marvin Hamlisch, Don Rickles, Neil Sedaka, Paul Williams, and Wynona. Prior to moving to Jacksonville, Kevin was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida where he performed regularly under the leadership of Michael Tilson Thomas.
Kevin was a founding member of the Colonial Musketeers Fife and Drum Corps of Hackettstown, NJ. He won the New Jersey State Rudimental Snare Drum Championship in 1979 and 1981. In addition to winning numerous competitions in the NJ/NYC area, the corps won both the New Jersey State Championship and the Northeastern Fife and Drum Championship during his tenure. His primary rudimental snare drum instructors were Old Guard alum, Peter Hubert, and famed DCI instructor Bobby Thompson.
Throughout middle school and high school, Kevin studied snare drum and drum set with Vincent “Muzzy” Mizzoni and concert percussion with Alfred Jorgensen. He placed second in the N.J. Percussive Arts Society Drum Set Contest (1982). During his college years, Kevin performed with Disney’s All-American College Band (1986), the American Waterways Wind Orchestra (1987), the National Repertory Orchestra (1988), Summit Brass (1988) and the Pacific Music Festival (1991).
Kevin attended Oberlin College where he studied with Michael Rosen and graduated with a B.A. in Biology and a B.M. in Percussion Performance. He received his Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan where he studied with Dr. Michael Udow and Salvatore Rabbio. He also benefited from additional lessons with Dr. Laurence Kaptain, Alan Abel and Joe Morello.
He has been on the faculty of the University of North Florida since 1998 where he teaches orchestral percussion and drum set in the Technology in Music Program. He is proud to share that three former UNF students are currently members of The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Past teaching positions include The Governor’s School of North Carolina, Stetson University and Florida State College at Jacksonville. Kevin is endorsed by Mike Balter Mallets and Sabian Cymbals.
Photo Credit: Chad Dennis
Drum Set Simplified 