A first call session musician in Los Angeles, Wade Culbreath has worked on hundreds of film and television soundtracks in the Hollywood film studios including the Oscar winning scores for “Aladdin,” “Life of Pi,” and “La La Land.” He is principal timpanist-percussionist with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. As concerto soloist with the orchestra, he was praised for his “virtuosity and jazzy flair” (Los Angeles Times) and “dazzling technique.” (American Record Guide). He is principal percussionist with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and principal timpanist with the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra, and has taken part in numerous recordings with the LA Philharmonic Orchestra on the Sony Classical and Deutsche Grammaphon labels. With the LA Philharmonic New Music Group, he has performed the music of Pierre Boulez, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Mauricio Kagel, and Tan Dun under the direction of the composers. His work in Los Angeles has included performances with the Los Angeles Opera, Bolshoi Ballet, American Ballet Theater, as timpanist for the 91st, 92nd, & 97th Academy Awards, and percussionist for the Broadway shows “The Lion King” and “Hamilton.” Beyond his work in the film studios, he appears on a diverse list of recordings including Steve Reich, “You Are” and “Daniel Variations,” Lyle Mays, “Eberhard,” and “Who,” an album by the English rock band, The Who. He has presented masterclasses at colleges and universities throughout Southern California and currently endorses Pearl / Adams, Sabian, Remo, and Freer Percussion.