Biography
Christian Kilgore (b. 2000) is a percussionist, performer, educator, and composer currently based in Columbia, South Carolina where he is pursuing his DMA in Percussion Performance at the University of South Carolina. He studied Percussion Performance at Middle Tennessee State University for his Master’s degree and Percussion Performance & Music Composition from Kennesaw State University for his Bachelor’s degree.
Christian has been playing percussion for over twelve years and composing for various groups for the past decade. He has performed in various large ensembles, percussion ensembles, church organizations, multiple local ensembles, steel pan bands, a salsa band, and is always working on solo content. Some of the organizations he has performed with include: the Atlanta Boy Choir, the Georgia Brass Band, and the Johnson Ferry Conservatory. Christian was also the Percussive Arts Society “Tennessee Chapter - Day of Percussion” Graduate Keyboard Competition Winner in 2024 and has recorded at both Ocean Way Nashville Recording Sessions and RCA Victor Recording Studios. Additionally, he has appeared as a solo artist during the world premiere of his first percussion concerto and can be heard performing multiple original works on his albums: Everything Now and Just the Beginning.
Christian’s compositions aim to build upon and add breadth to the current selection of percussion repertoire while also remaining personal to his experiences and worldview. Christian hosts an annual consortium aiming to create new works for percussion with the input of consortium members and has been commissioned by multiple colleges and high schools alike. Although he is largely self-published, he does have music coming out through Row-Loff Productions, Tapspace Publications, and C Alan. His compositions have been premiered by the Texas Christian University Percussion Ensemble, the Middle Tennessee State University Percussion Ensemble and Steel Pan Band, the Kennesaw State University Symphony Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble, RE-Percussion, Jackson County High School, Discovery High School, North Oconee High School, the Governor’s Honors Program Percussion Ensemble, and more. His work has been awarded and recognized by the Percussive Arts Society, reviewed in the Percussive Notes, and Christian currently serves on the Composition Committee for the Percussive Arts Society.
As an educator, Christian aims to make percussion and composition as accessible to all students as possible. He has taught beginner percussionists, explaining and breaking down fundamentals. High School percussionists, having some students go on to All-State and/or succeed in a college auditions. And Collegiate percussionists through private lessons, ensemble directing, and lecturing. Christian has given masterclasses ranging in topics from How to start composing, Timpani Fundamentals, to the History of Salsa. He has had the opportunity to lecture and teach at the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra, Middle Tennessee State University, West Jackson Middle School, Whitefield Academy, Jackson County High School, Lost Mountain Middle School, ENCORE! Band Camp, Wheeler High School, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Nolensville High School, and more.
Christian tells his personal story through the music he makes and his mission is to bring percussion music and education to as many people as he can. Christian has had the pleasure to study under Dr. Scott Herring, Lalo Davila, Dr. Brian Mueller, Julie Davila, John lawless, and Dr. Laurence Sherr.