Ian Gibson
Cambrian College ,Laurentian University, Sudbury Symphony Orchestra - Canada
Overview
Residing in Sudbury, Ontario and has been the Head of Percussion Studies at both Cambrian College and Laurentian University since 2005. He is the Principal Percussionist and Timpanist with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, a position held since 2006.
Ian received both a Bachelor and Master Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Toronto where his principal teachers were Russell Hartenberger, Beverley Johnston and John Rudolph. As a member of the University of Toronto Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Robin Engleman, he can be heard performing on the ensemble's 2001 recording, Rondino. While living in Toronto he travelled to Philadelphia to study with Alan Abel - retired percussionist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Ian became the first Canadian Percussionist to be awarded both the Sabian PASIC Scholarship and the Zildjian Percussion Scholarship while completing his undergraduate degree.
With an ever growing concert schedule, Ian regularly finds himself on stage either as a soloist or performing with various orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout Canada and the United States. He is a founding member of three chamber ensembles: Duo Libre, a flute and percussion duo with his wife Rachel Gibson, the Eagle|Gibson Duo, with New York City percussionist Michael Eagle and the PerStr Duo, with violist Jane Russell. Select performance highlights include: performing Drumming by Steve Reich with Nexus at PASIC, participating in the Drummers Heritage Concert at PASIC and presenting the world premiere of the full orchestra arrangement of Rosewood Dreaming by Bill Cahn with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra.
In 2012, Ian became the Bass Drummer and Midsection Leader of the Peel Regional Police Pipe band, which is considered to be one of the premier bands in the world and the reigning North American Champions since 2010. Over the past fifteen years he has lead Bass and Tenor Sections, in both Grade 1 and 2, to winning multiple Canadian, United States and North American Championships. In 2001, Ian was instrumental in the Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band winning the Grade 2 - World Bass Section Championship. He has acted as a member of the Pipers' and Pipe Band Society of Ontario Music Board and has adjudicated numerous contests throughout Ontario.
When not competing or performing with his own band, Ian has had the honour of appearing on stage with other top pipe bands such as Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia, Oran Mor and New York Metro. In the Fall of 2011, he became the Scottish Bass Drummer for The Ruff Drags; a multi-style fusion drumming ensemble consisting of members from across North America with backgrounds in both Pipe Band and DCI.
Ian is a sponsored educator/artist for Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drums and Adams Percussion.