Brandon Draper is an acclaimed drummer, percussionist, producer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator whose career spans performance, recording, touring, music production, and higher education. In addition to maintaining an active freelance career, Draper performs as a solo artist and multi-instrumentalist across a wide range of contemporary, jazz, world music, and commercial settings.
As a member of the Turkish jazz ensemble Alaturka, Draper recorded, co-mixed, and performed on Yalniz (2013), which was recognized by DownBeat Magazine as one of the Best Albums of 2013 and received a 4.5-star review. He also performs guitar with his father, renowned Hammond B-3 organist Paul Draper, in The Draper Family Band.
Together with his wife, Teryn, Draper founded and operates Drum Safari™, an acclaimed interactive music education and performance program for children and families. The couple also owns Looking Up Productions, Inc., a Kansas City-based artist management, touring, and record label company specializing in production, logistics, and artist development.
Draper has performed at leading festivals, universities, concert halls, and conventions throughout the United States. His orchestral credits include performances with the Kansas City Symphony, the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra. In jazz and contemporary music settings, he has performed and recorded with a diverse roster of internationally recognized artists, including Ottmar Liebert, DJ Logic, Donna Summer, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Mose Allison, Steve Coleman, Dick Oatts, Mike Moreno, Bobby Watson, Ara Dinkjian, and Kevin Hays.
From 2011 to 2015, Draper toured nationally with the livetronica pioneers Particle and later contributed to the band's album Accelerator (2018). His credits also include the critically acclaimed world premiere of the hip-hop musical Venice in Los Angeles and the premiere of his original composition Bass Darabukas with Quixotic and the Kansas City Symphony. From 2007 to 2012, Draper served as Musical Director and live drummer for Quixotic Fusion, and he continues to collaborate with the Kansas City-based cirque ensemble as a composer, consultant, and performer.
An accomplished educator, Draper has taught at the University of New Mexico, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, East Mountain High School, and numerous secondary schools throughout the Midwest and Southwest as a clinician, percussion specialist, and marching arts consultant. He has presented masterclasses for Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion events in Kansas, Nebraska, and New Mexico, performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), and led workshops for Music Educators Association conferences across Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico.
Currently, Draper serves as Associate Professor of Practice and Commercial Music Area Coordinator at the University of Kansas, where he directs the Music Production & Technology degree program and oversees curriculum in music business, audio productions, and commercial music studies. He is the lead professor directing the drum set studio in jazz and commercial music. In addition, he serves as Contemporary Worship and AV Director at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawnee, Kansas.
Draper holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Bethany College and a Master of Music degree, with distinction, from the University of New Mexico. He is a voting member of the Recording Academy and is proud to endorse Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Audix Microphones, and Meinl Percussion.
"Draper mashes up his DJ and percussion talents into a world-music dance party with some of the most polyrhythmic beats you'll hear this side of the Atlantic Ocean. "
Lawrence.com
"Draper's excellence in hitting things with sticks -- will make everything in your life okay."
Pitch Magazine
"Folks, Drapers range of ethnic styles has me hooked!"
Santa Fe Reporter
“Brandon Draper does things on the drums that seem near-impossible. His intense beat keeps the fire burning all the time….”
KC Star
“…Brandon Draper’s a must-see and must-hear, at all costs.”
Berman Music Foundation
As a member of the Turkish jazz ensemble Alaturka, Draper recorded, co-mixed, and performed on Yalniz (2013), which was recognized by DownBeat Magazine as one of the Best Albums of 2013 and received a 4.5-star review. He also performs guitar with his father, renowned Hammond B-3 organist Paul Draper, in The Draper Family Band.
Together with his wife, Teryn, Draper founded and operates Drum Safari™, an acclaimed interactive music education and performance program for children and families. The couple also owns Looking Up Productions, Inc., a Kansas City-based artist management, touring, and record label company specializing in production, logistics, and artist development.
Draper has performed at leading festivals, universities, concert halls, and conventions throughout the United States. His orchestral credits include performances with the Kansas City Symphony, the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra. In jazz and contemporary music settings, he has performed and recorded with a diverse roster of internationally recognized artists, including Ottmar Liebert, DJ Logic, Donna Summer, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Mose Allison, Steve Coleman, Dick Oatts, Mike Moreno, Bobby Watson, Ara Dinkjian, and Kevin Hays.
From 2011 to 2015, Draper toured nationally with the livetronica pioneers Particle and later contributed to the band's album Accelerator (2018). His credits also include the critically acclaimed world premiere of the hip-hop musical Venice in Los Angeles and the premiere of his original composition Bass Darabukas with Quixotic and the Kansas City Symphony. From 2007 to 2012, Draper served as Musical Director and live drummer for Quixotic Fusion, and he continues to collaborate with the Kansas City-based cirque ensemble as a composer, consultant, and performer.
An accomplished educator, Draper has taught at the University of New Mexico, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, East Mountain High School, and numerous secondary schools throughout the Midwest and Southwest as a clinician, percussion specialist, and marching arts consultant. He has presented masterclasses for Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion events in Kansas, Nebraska, and New Mexico, performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), and led workshops for Music Educators Association conferences across Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico.
Currently, Draper serves as Associate Professor of Practice and Commercial Music Area Coordinator at the University of Kansas, where he directs the Music Production & Technology degree program and oversees curriculum in music business, audio productions, and commercial music studies. He is the lead professor directing the drum set studio in jazz and commercial music. In addition, he serves as Contemporary Worship and AV Director at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawnee, Kansas.
Draper holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Bethany College and a Master of Music degree, with distinction, from the University of New Mexico. He is a voting member of the Recording Academy and is proud to endorse Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Audix Microphones, and Meinl Percussion.
"Draper mashes up his DJ and percussion talents into a world-music dance party with some of the most polyrhythmic beats you'll hear this side of the Atlantic Ocean. "
Lawrence.com
"Draper's excellence in hitting things with sticks -- will make everything in your life okay."
Pitch Magazine
"Folks, Drapers range of ethnic styles has me hooked!"
Santa Fe Reporter
“Brandon Draper does things on the drums that seem near-impossible. His intense beat keeps the fire burning all the time….”
KC Star
“…Brandon Draper’s a must-see and must-hear, at all costs.”
Berman Music Foundation
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