Lucas Gillan

Lucas Gillan is a professional drummer, percussion instructor, and composer currently teaching at Fenwick High School and Wheaton College. He also performs part-time with Blue Man Group and leads his own jazz quartet, Lucas Gillan's Many Blessings, which released Chit-Chatting With Herbie in 2019. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies (minor in Journalism) from Northern Illinois University in 2007 and earned a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from DePaul University in 2017.

• B.M. Jazz Studies, Northern Illinois University (2007)
• M.M. Jazz Studies, DePaul University (2017)

His research interests (via teaching and performance) focus on jazz improvisation, percussion techniques, and contemporary music composition. He has collaborated with artists like Antonio Hart and Charles McPherson during his academic training and maintains a studio for private drumming instruction.

Lucas maintains an active performance career in Chicago venues like Green Mill and Lincoln Hall, while balancing academic instruction and creative projects with The Right Now soul/pop band and solo singer-songwriter appearances at spaces like Uncommon Ground and The Hideout.