About
Dr. Jamie Drake is an Assistant Professor of Percussion at Queen's University and a versatile percussionist, drummer, and composer. He holds a D.M.A. from the University of Toronto, specializing in ritual and community in John Luther Adams' music. His affiliations include the Hamilton Children’s Choir (percussionist/artistic staff) and TorQ Percussion Quartet. He has performed with orchestras like the Toronto Symphony and ensembles such as NEXUS and Esprit Orchestra.
Education:
- Doctorate of Musical Arts (D.M.A.), University of Toronto, 2019
- Master of Music (M.M.), San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 2006
- Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.), University of Toronto, 2004
- ARCT Piano Performance, Royal Conservatory, 2001
Research & Performance: Specializes in percussion performance across classical, contemporary, and theatrical genres. His work spans premieres of compositions by Christos Hatzis and Nicole Lizée, and collaborations with CBC on 'Canada’s Smartest Person.' His solo album Night (2014) explores evolving percussion textures. Active in musical theatre, he has contributed to Dora Award-winning productions with Canadian Stage and Mirvish.
Teaching & Outreach: Leads TorQ Percussion Seminar for college students and emphasizes community-building in music education. Previously taught at Acadia University. Compositions include Chop Wood, Carry Water for percussion and commissioned works for choirs and orchestras.
Labs/Teams: TorQ Percussion Quartet, Hamilton Children’s Choir, and collaborations with vocalists like Divine Brown and Jully Black.
