Brian Zator is Assistant Professor of Percussion at Texas A&M University-Commerce. His responsibilities include the classical and marching percussion ensembles, the “Panimation” steel drum band, undergraduate and graduate applied lessons, and the percussion methods and literature courses. He earned his BME degree from Baylor University, MM degree from the University of Michigan and is currently pursuing his DMA at the University of North Texas. He is also a student of world-renowned marimba artist, Keiko Abe, having performed and studied with her in Japan.

As a marimba/percussion soloist, he has performed with the Texas A&M-Commerce Wind Ensemble at the 2005 CBDNA national conference and the Birdville H.S. Percussion Ensemble at PASIC 2005. Zator was also one of the soloists with the University of North Texas Wind Symphony at PASIC 2006. Other solo appearances have included the Conroe and The Woodlands Symphonies, the Texas A&M-Commerce Symphonic Band, the Lone Star Wind Orchestra and at several Texas Day of Percussion events. He is active giving clinics and concerts at various colleges, high schools and state festivals including the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, the California Band Directors Association conventions, and the Winter Music Festival in Vale Veneto, Brazil. Zator and the Texas A&M-Commerce percussion ensemble presented a concert at PASIC 2006 featuring works of Minoru Miki and recently released a CD entitled “Sohmon III: New and Unknown Percussion Works of Minoru Miki”.

Brian Zator has performed with an assortment of percussion ensembles including Keiko Abe and Ensemble Clair, Primary Colors, the Michigan Percussion Group, and the Bain Percussion Group at PASIC 2003. Additionally, he is the principal timpanist and percussionist with the Northeast Texas Symphony. He was a member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and taught the University of Michigan drumline. Active within the Percussive Arts Society, he is secretary for the Texas chapter and serves on the Keyboard and Percussion Ensemble Committees. He provides reviews for Percussive Notes and has adjudicated the PAS International Percussion Ensemble and Composition Competitions. Zator has two keyboard ensemble arrangements published by Go Fish Music: “Spring” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and “Cassiopeia Marimbana” by Minoru Miki. He is proud to be a Dynasty, Innovative Percussion, Sabian and Evans performing artist and clinician.