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Chris Pierorazio

Instructor

Baltimore native Chris Pierorazio began his formal studies at the age of six with Peabody Conservatory alum Mark Jones at the Baltimore School for Drumming, where he studied until 2005. While there, he studied drum set in all genres including advanced jazz studies, modern rock and funk techniques, Latin style as well as classical and rudimental snare drum studies.

 Immediately upon graduating high school, Mr. Pierorazio entered the Peabody Conservatory, studying under world renowned percussionists Jonathan Haas and Robert Van Sice in the area of Classical Percussion and Nasar Abedey in the area of Jazz Percussion.

 Mr. Pierorazio has had opportunities to perform with many top ensembles over the years. He was a member of Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps front ensemble for the 2005 season under the instruction of Erik Johnson and Bret Kuhn, winning the Drum Corps International Individual and Ensemble competition in the category of percussion ensemble. He is also a current member of the Peabody Jazz Orchestra and the Latin Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Pierorazio has played in many pit orchestras for musicals in the Baltimore area, including Urinetown, Songs for a New World, Into the Woods, Nunsense, Alter Boyz, Jekyll and Hyde, and Sweeney Todd. The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which he assistant-music directed and conducted.

 Mr. Pierorazio works as a freelance percussionist and percussion educator in the Baltimore area. He is the resident percussionist at the Church of the Nativity in Lutherville, MD. He is the percussionist and background vocalist in the Terry Gourley Trio, with singer/songwriter Terry Gourley and master electric guitarist Tobias Hurwitz. As an educator, he teaches at the Baltimore School for Drumming where he studied for 13 years. He teaches the Front Ensemble of the Towson University Marching Band, which appeared in the 2009 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Mr. Pierorazio has also worked with Calvert Hall College High School, from 2005 to 2008 in the areas of marching and concert percussion. 

 Mr. Pierorazio can be heard on record with a wide range of artists. He played with the Peabody Wind Ensemble on Collage: A Celebration of the 150th Annniversary of the Peabody Institute 1857-2007, on the Naxos label. He has also played with solo artist Cameron Blake on his latest album En Route which has received much critical acclaim. Currently Mr. Pierorazio is in the studio with the band Medicine Lake, a group he co-founded with singer Simon Pyles, working on their debut album. 

 Chris has also been a teacher with DayJams, a part of the National Guitar Workshop, for the last four years.