performer
Taylor believes it takes a depth of experience in performance and practice to be a quality teacher and tries to model these skills for his students. He has an extensive performance background and has shared the stage with some of the most influential composers and performers in contemporary and classical music. He has played chamber music at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC, performed at the Percussive Arts Society National Convention, the Midwest Clinic, Texas Music Educators Association Convention, and more. He has served as the Principal Percussionist of the Waco Symphony Orchestra and performed under the baton of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Marin Alsop. He has shared the stage with artists such as Sō Percussion, Glenn Kotche of the band Wilco, and Yo-Yo Ma.
He is an avid chamber musician and is a founding member of the group Lagan Percussion, who won the inaugural Semper Pro Musica competition in 2016. With Lagan he has commissioned composers such as Ivan Treviño and Alejandro Viñao. Lagan is passionate about collaboration and has put together large scale projects such as Music for 18 Musicians, Amid the Noise, In C, and Inuksuit.
Taylor’s repertoire includes pieces such as:
Reflections on the Nature of Water, Jacob Druckman
Khan Variations, Alejandro Viñao
Time for Marimba, Minoru Miki
Land, Takatsugu Muramatsu
Rebonds, Iannis Xenakis
Side by Side, Michio Kitazume
to the earth, Frederic Rzewski
Impressions, Nicolas Martynciow
Säeta, Elliott Carter