Adrian Bending

Adrian Bending serves as Baroque Timpani Professor at the Royal College of Music's Faculty of Percussion, where he is also affiliated with the Percussion Department. He simultaneously holds the position of Principal Timpani with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and performs regularly with London's major symphonic, chamber, and period-instrument orchestras.

His expertise spans several key areas:

• Historical Performance practice (specializing in Baroque repertoire)
• Period-appropriate timpani techniques
• Percussion education and pedagogy
• Research into historical percussion instruments

Bending has established himself as a leading authority in historical percussion performance, with particular recognition for his research sourcing period instruments for landmark recordings like Berlioz' Grande Messe des Morts.

His notable recognition includes:

• Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM)

Professor Bending maintains an extensive international performance schedule across Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, and North America. His discography includes significant classical recordings with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London Symphony Orchestra, and Sir Colin Davis, along with prominent film soundtracks including the Harry Potter series. His 2016 publication Bending Bach's Basslines has contributed substantially to percussion pedagogy, and he has developed materials for the Associated Board's percussion syllabus.

He is frequently engaged as a masterclass instructor at leading institutions worldwide including Brussels Royal Conservatoire, Chetham's, Trinity Laban, and Guildhall School of Music, and regularly participates in the RCM Festival of Percussion.