T.J. Troy

T.J. Troy combines his eclectic knowledge of percussion from around the world with his innate musicality to create a distinct and powerful voice in the world of contemporary percussion. Be it as a member of many high caliber ensembles, a soloist, or with the numerous artists he collaborates with, T.J. is quickly becoming a true phenomenon in the Los Angeles music community. Known for his high-energy performance and broad range of disciplines, T.J. performs in a number of ensembles, notably MESTO, the Elvis Schoenberg Orchestra Surreal, Adam Rudolph’s Organic Orchestra, and Partch. Additionally, he is the founder and music director of the Old Standard Percussion Group (formerly Anahata Percussion Group), performing at the grand opening inaugural event at the REDCAT Theater.

LA Times reviewer Mark Sved writes: “The evenings many performers… (including) percussionist T.J. Troy… were of a caliber that kept this listener in a state of continual astonishment,” so is the phenomenon that is T.J. Troy. T.J. has extensive performance and studio experience on the North Indian tabla, including North American tours with kirtan singer/songwriter Dave Stringer; he was a featured soloist on the Ali Akbar College of Music’s March Concert Series in 2007, as well as their Spring Concert Series in 2006. Additionally, T.J. has performed extensively throughout Southern California in classical Hindustani music, devotional kirtan chant, and various ethnic-fusion based ensembles. Other ensembles he has performed with include MESTO, Freshly Squeezed, the Elvis Schoenberg Orchestre Surreal, Adam Rudolph's GO: Organic Orchestra, and recently was a featured performer with 14-year old composer prodigy Lyon Lazarre in A World Without You, a concert extravaganza soon to be released on CD and DVD, produced by the Anya Foundation and Opus 119.

In the ensemble Partch, T.J. is the champion of the magnificent bass marimba; adding his low baritone voice to mix, T.J. is one of the stalwarts of the West Coast’s premiere ensemble specializing in the compositions of American maverick, Harry Partch. With yearly performances at the REDCAT Theater, Partch has also been featured in Los Angeles’ “Grand Performances” series, performing in the beautiful California Plaza, amidst the backdrop of downtown Los Angeles. Partch “… wanted performers who were physical presences. And he got (them) in the likes of … T.J. Troy (LA Times).

As a composer, T.J.’s compositions have received critical acclaim across the U.S. His works have been performed by such groups as the University of Michigan Creative Arts Orchestra, the CalArts Percussion Ensemble, Condensation, the Chapman University Percussion Ensemble, the Citrus College Percussion Ensemble, and OK Composer. T.J. is the music director/composer for the chamber ensemble Freshly Squeezed; the group has been lauded as a fresh voice in the new music circles throughout Los Angeles for their unique blend of contemporary performance techniques and world music sensibilities, with performances at such eclectic art spaces as Dangerous Curve, the Eagle Rock Center for the Arts, Los Angeles City College, and the Il Corral. Troy’s music is heavily featured in the group’s repertoire, and a full-length recording of the group is expected in early 2008.

In November 2005, he was the composer for Blank the Dog’s production of Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal; in November-December 2002, he was composer and onstage performer for Christina Morales’ Morgan le Fay at the Complex Theater in Los Angeles. He was an onstage performer in Return Engagement to Garment City, by Jessica Rath, staged in the Figueroa Station of the Los Angeles Subway System, February 2002; he was a member of the onstage band for the CalArts Center for New Theater’s production of Trojan Women staged in November 2001. He is an active performer and composer for television and film; he was awarded the Gaia Award from the Moondance International Film Festival for his score to Den Serras' film, "Seven Swans," co-written with composer Leon Rothenberg. In 2007, T.J. was a featured composer and guest artist with the Chapman University Percussion Ensemble, as the group performed his percussion quintet “Great Western Railway,” a massive collision of polyrhythms and micro-tonal tuning systems.

In addition to a heavy performance schedule, T.J. is currently the World Percussion Instructor at Citrus College in Glendora, CA; additionally, he has taught classes and workshops at the California Institute of the Arts, La Sierra University, and the Oakwood School, and has served on the faculty of Bethesda Christian University. T.J. received his Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Michigan, and his Master of Fine Arts degree, specializing in Percussion, from the California Institute of the Arts. His principle instructors have been Michael Udow, Julie Spencer, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, David Johnson, John Bergamo, Randy Gloss, Houman Pourmedhi, and Faisel Zedan. Currently stationed in Los Angeles, T.J. has performed extensively throughout the United States at such venues as The Kennedy Center and Lisner Auditorium (Washington D.C.); the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Segerstrom Hall, the John Anson Ford Amphitheater, the REDCAT Theater, the El Rey Theater, and the House of Blues (Los Angeles); Hill Auditorium (Ann Arbor, MI); the Barclay Theater (Irvine, CA) the Arab-American National Museum (Dearborn, MI); the Ali Akbar College of Music, Mills College, and the Theater Artaud (San Francisco Bay Area); the Earwig Factory (Bisbee, AZ); and the Galapagos Art Space (New York, NY).