Biography

Robert Zolnowski (b. 1981) is a percussion teacher, performer, and composer residing near Buffalo, NY. He has served as head percussion instructor and composer/arranger for marching bands and drum corps throughout the United States, and he maintains a private percussion studio and performs as a freelance percussionist in the Western New York area.

 As a member of the American Federation of Musicians, Robert has had the privilege of performing with Susan Anton, Frankie Avalon, Aretha Franklin, Deana Martin, Johnny Mathis, Regis Philbin, Frankie Scinta, Frank Sinatra Jr., The Who, and Weird Al Yankovic. In 2011, he was honored to perform as a member of the PASIC 50th Anniversary Professional Marimba Orchestra.

 In addition to composing for marching bands and drum corps, Robert writes solo and chamber percussion music. He has compositions published by Keyboard Percussion Press (KPP) as well as other self-published works.

 Robert has studied African music in Ghana, West Africa with the Agbeli family and Bernard Woma. He has toured as a drum corps member with DCI’s Glassmen (Toledo OH), and DCA’s Rochester (NY) Crusaders.

 Robert received his M.M. in Percussion Performance from Bowling Green State University and his B.M. in Percussion Performance from Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music. He is honored to be a Marimba One Educational Artist as well as a member of the Sabian Education Network and the D’Addario Education Collective.