Wade Culbreath
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra - United States
Overview
Wade Culbreath is principal timpanist with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. He is also currently principal timpanist with the Pasadena Symphony and principal percussionist with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on recordings for the Sony Classical and Deutsche Grammaphon labels under the direction of Esa-Pekka Salonen and appeared on L.A. Philharmonic New Music Group concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Ojai Music Festival and the Chatelet Theatre Musical de Paris. Highlights of his work with this ensemble include performing Pierre Boulez's "Eclat," "Derive 2," and "Pli Selon Pli," and the world premiere of Esa-Pekka Salonen's "Catch and Release," under direction of the composers. A longtime fan of the music of Steve Reich, Mr. Culbreath enjoyed working on two of his Nonesuch label recordings; "You Are (Variations)" and "Daniel Variations," and performing their world premieres in New York and Los Angeles. His extensive work in the L.A. film studios includes playing timpani and percussion on hundreds of motion picture and television soundtracks. Mr. Culbreath earned his Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California and Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music where he was awarded the Performer's Certificate. His primary teachers were John Beck, Arthur Press, Kenneth Watson and Massie Johnson.