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Dr. David Collier is University Professor of Percussion and Associate Director of the School of Music at Illinois State University. Dr. Collier is currently the principal timpanist with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, and the Heartland Festival Orchestra. He has served as timpanist with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, the Sinfonia da camera, the Laredo Philharmonic, and the Corpus Christi Symphony. In addition, Collier is also active as a freelance percussionist and has performed with artists such as Mannheim Steamroller, Celtic Woman, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Hamlisch, Joel Gray, Mitzi Gaynor, Henry Mancini, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Petula Clark, Tommy Tune, Roger Williams, Shirley Jones, and Bobby Vinton. Not just an orchestral musician, Collier loves all genres of music and has recently returned to his roots as a jazz drumset player performing with the Straight Answer Trio. In addition to performing, Dr. Collier is the percussion author for Measures of Success, published by FJH Music.
Dr. Collier received his Bachelor of Music degree from Florida State University, his Master of Music degree from Indiana University – where he was awarded a Performer’s Certificate – and his doctorate in Percussion Performance and Electronic Music from the University of Illinois. Dr. Collier is a proud performing artist for Yamaha, Sabian Cymbals, Grover Pro Percussion, Innovative Percussion, and Evans Drumheads. Dr. Collier also serves as Percussion Coordinator for both the Music for All Honor Band of America and the Concert Percussion Track at the Summer Symposium. In addition, he has served as an adjudicator for Drum Corps International and Bands of America.