Jamie Drake

Described as "an incredibly musical percussionist" and as having an "impeccable sense of time and feel", Jamie Drake is a Toronto-based percussionist, drummer and composer. He received his MMus from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and has pursued doctoral studies at the University of Toronto with Dr. Russell Hartenberger. His solo and chamber performances have included premieres by Christos Hatzis, Elinor Armer and John Luther Adams. As a member of TorQ Percussion Quartet, he has performed numerous concerts, workshops and educational shows across Canada, the United States and Europe. A busy freelance percussionist, he has performed with Evelyn Glennie, NEXUS, Soundstreams, Amici, Niagara Symphony, Aradia Ensemble, and is percussionist and on the artistic staff for the Hamilton Children’s Choir. He recently he served as interim percussion instructor at Acadia University, and as a composer, percussion consultant, and performer for the second season of the CBC television show “Canada’s Smartest Person”. He released his first solo album, Night, in July 2014.

Equally at home playing drumset, Jamie has served as house drummer for Soulpepper Concerts, is a frequent collaborator with cabaret artist Sharron Matthews and is the percussionist/drummer and assistant arranger for Acting Upstage’s “UnCovered” Concert series. An active theatre musician, Jamie has played for more than 50 musicals, including Canadian Stage’s award-winning London Road and has recorded theatre music for the Shaw Festival and composer Andrew Lippa.

Jamie's compositions and arrangements have been commissioned and performed by TorQ Percussion Quartet, Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Children's Choir, Hillfield Strathallan College, and OnnanoKo Taiko, amongst others. Upcoming projects include a work for solo vibraphone and a composition for SSAA choir and percussion.