Zachary Himelhoch

Based in Oak Park, Illinois, Zachary Himelhoch is a world-percussionist with specialization in Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Caribbean styles. Zachary has performed with numerous artists including Chance The Rapper, Denny Jiosa, Andy Narell, Lenny Castro, Etienne Charles, The Cool Kids, Daru Jones, Mark Walker, and Dave Garfield at events throughout the country including The Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Lollapalooza, the Detroit Jazz Festival, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival Benefit Concert, Windsor Jazz Festival, and the Syracuse Jazz Festival. He served as the house percussionist for Tom Hurst presents The Loud Jamz and the Band Director of Samba Nashville.

As a World Percussion Specialist in Metro Nashville Public Schools, Zachary taught Brazilian, West African, Cuban, and Caribbean percussion to students ranging from Grades 2-12. For the past few years, he has taught World Percussion for the Classroom, a graduate-level MECA course designed to help teachers integrate world percussion into the classroom setting, as an Adjunct Instructor for VanderCook College of Music.

Studying extensively under the direction of Ruben Alvarez, Skip “Brinquito” Burney, Tom Hipskind, Jarett Hicks, James Coviak, and Al DiBlassio, Zachary received his Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Performance from Columbia College Chicago and his Masters in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music. He has taught clinics and master classes in percussion at a number of venues including the Jim Lee Fine Arts Camp, Columbia College Chicago, Holly Middle School, Mott Community College, Vanderbilt University, VanderCook College of Music, and Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Zachary owns and operates CitySide Music, a company providing instructional programs, presentations, and private tutoring in all aspects of world percussion. CitySide Books is a publishing imprint dedicated to bringing music education to life through story. Owned and operated by Zachary Himelhoch, MMED, CitySide Books strives to empower families and teachers to introduce children to a world of exploration using the lens of music.