Kit Chatham is an internationally recognized percussionist,
performer, arranger, and educator. Kit’s experience in many forms
of percussion, including drum set, world percussion, orchestral
percussion, and marching percussion, makes him a highly sought
after performer & clinician and create a percussive sound that is uniquely his own.
Kit currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada where he is the
percussionist for Cirque du Soleil’s production, Viva ELVIS. Kit
has enjoyed performing on stage around the world with some of
the most exciting shows. Before joining the creation of Viva Elvis
by Cirque du Soleil in late June, Kit toured all over the U.S.,
Canada, and Japan with Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo. Kit was the
Drum Set/Percussionist with Corteo from its creation in January
of 2005 and left in June of 2009 after performing over 1500+
shows without even missing a single show.
Before joining Cirque du Soleil, Kit finished an exciting run from 2003 to 2004 as the featured percussionist and music/percussion manager for the critically acclaimed instrumental theatrical show, CYBERJAM, performing in London, England’s West End. From 2001 up through 2003, Kit was the featured snare drum/percussion soloist with the Tony and Emmy Award winning Broadway show BLAST! touring all over the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. Kit performed with numerous bands and ensembles prior to joining BLAST! and toured through out North America and Europe at venues like the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival, the Vienne Jazz Festival, and many other festivals.
Kit has arranged, composed, and designed for some of the Nation’s top music ensembles. Including such groups as the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corp, The University of Georgia, Terminus Percussion Theatre, Atlanta Quest, Odyssey Percussion Theater, Core-Percussion from Japan, and numerous scholastic groups throughout North America and Japan.
Kit has also published 6 books on percussion and is co-creator of the Principal Percussion Series for Percussion. This series is featured in SmartMusic’s ground breaking software and was a result of
collaborating with SmartMusic. www.PrincipalPercussionSeries.com
Kit received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from The University of Georgia where he studied with Dr. Thomas McCutchen and Dr. Arvin Scott. While attending, he instructed & arranged for the 2000 Sudler Trophy winning University of Georgia Redcoat Band, performed in numerous ensembles, and toured Europe performing at many prestigious jazz festivals.
Kit continues to give clinics and master classes on percussion around the world and is a proud endorser of Vic Firth Stick & Mallets, Yamaha Drums & Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Alternate Mode, and fXpansion Music Software.
