Randy Gloss

Randy Gloss is a faculty member at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he has taught since the late 1990s. He oversees the MFA World Percussion Program and served as Director of World Music Performance Programs (2015–2020) and held the Michel Columbier Performer-Composer Chair (2018–2021). Gloss is renowned for his innovative work in global percussion traditions, blending hand drums, contemporary percussion, and drum set across jazz, new music, and world music ensembles.

His career spans collaborations with artists like Ziggy Marley, L. Shankar, and Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, as well as contributions to film soundtracks (e.g., Prince of Persia and Cowboys and Aliens). Gloss co-founded the critically acclaimed percussion group Hands On’Semble in 1997 and has released solo and duo albums, including ...The Ayes Have It Vol. I and II. He has performed at prestigious festivals and venues worldwide, from Brazil to Taiwan.

Scientific and artistic accolades include multiple Drum! Magazine Reader’s Poll Awards and international recognition as a virtuoso percussionist. His pedagogical influence extends through teaching roles at UCLA, LA Music Academy, and guest lectureships globally.