Freelance percussionist and music educator Brant Roberts spends his time performing widely and exploring the world of music. His work has guided him to find many musical homes. He feels comfortable performing on the concert stage with an orchestra, in contemporary music spaces, accompanying and composing for movement artists, or participating in folkloric music performances. 

 

Roberts is passionate about music education and focuses on creating students who value wide-ranging expression that balances orchestral percussion, drum set, and world percussion. He teaches at the University of Illinois Springfield and Millikin University.

 

Roberts is a strong advocate for new music and contemporary performance. His latest work includes serving as artistic director and performer for Turn Around, a concert series dedicated to fostering community around new music, improvisation, and working with local composers. He has served as the percussion fellow for New Music on the Point (VT) in 2024 and 2025. He has also been an invited soloist for the New Music Gathering and the Nief-Norf Contemporary Music Festival.

 

Accompanying and composing for modern dance has played a large role in his freelance career. He has worked at high-profile studios such as The Martha Graham School and Peridance Center and successful university programs such as Rutgers University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His dance compositions have been performed across the US and Europe.

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[bio current as of May 2025]