About Dr. Brian Zator

Dr. Brian Zator is a Professor of Music and the Director of Percussion at Texas A&M University-Commerce. As coordinator of the Percussion Studio, he oversees five Percussion Instructors, Graduate Assistants, and is responsible for the classical and marching percussion ensembles, “Panimation” Steel Drum Band, “Samba Leão” Brazilian Ensemble, undergraduate and graduate applied lessons, and the Percussion Pedagogy and Literature courses. He holds degrees from Baylor University, the University of Michigan and the University of North Texas. He is also a student of world-renowned marimba artist, Keiko Abe, having performed and studied with her in Japan.

Dr. Zator has performed at seven PASIC’s, conventions and festivals across the United States, at Carnegie Hall, and abroad in Brazil, Argentina, Japan, China, Australia, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Canada. He has two CD’s released on Equilibrium Records: “Zamiki: Music for Solo Marimba” and a chamber-works CD entitled, “Zoomorphs”. Dr. Zator was also named a Co-Winner for The American Prize in Instrumental Performance, 2021 (professional division).

Active within the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), he served as President of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors from 2017-2018. He was a member of the Keyboard and Percussion Ensemble Committees, has written reviews for Percussive Notes, and has adjudicated the PAS International Percussion Ensemble, Composition, and PASIC Marimba Solo Competitions.

Dr. Zator and the A&M-Commerce Percussion Ensemble were one of the three winners of the prestigious 2010 PAS International Percussion Ensemble Competition. The ensemble also presented a concert at PASIC 2006, featuring works of Minoru Miki, and has released two CD’s since 2007. Dr. Zator has an instructional keyboard book, “Keyboard Fundamentals with Play-Along Tracks”, and several published keyboard percussion solo and ensemble works.

Dr. Zator is a performing artist and clinician for Innovative Percussion, Sabian, Evans, Black Swamp Percussion, Stryvemind, and Ensemble Block.