Kit Chatham is an internationally recognized percussionist,

performer, composer, arranger, and educator.  Kit’s experience in many forms of percussion, including drum set, world percussion, orchestral percussion, and marching percussion, makes him a highly sought after performer & clinician and create a percussive sound that is uniquely his own.

 

Kit has been a Drummer/Percussionist, Bandleader, and Artist Coach for Cirque du Soliel since 2005. He currently is the Drummer/Percussionist for Cirque du Soleil’s newest show in collaboration with Disney called Drawn to Life. Kit has enjoyed performing throughout the world and in front of millions of spectators with other Cirque du Soleil productions: KURIOS (2014-2019), Kooza (2013-2014), Zumanity (2012-2013), Mystere (2012-2013), Viva Elvis (2009-2012), and Corteo (2005-2009). Kit has been the original Percussionist/Drummer and helped to create his characters for Drawn to Life, KURIOS, Viva Elvis, and Corteo. In over 7000+ shows with Cirque, Kit has not missed a single show. He is known in Cirque circles as the “Cirque du-rummer” because of his performances in seven different Cirque du Soleil productions

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Before joining Cirque du Soleil, Kit completed an exciting run from 2003 to 2004 as the featured percussionist soloist and music/percussion manager for the critically acclaimed instrumental theatrical show, CYBERJAM, in London, England’s West End. From 2001 to 2003, he was the featured snare drum/percussion soloist with the Tony and Emmy Award-winning Broadway show, BLAST!, which toured the United States, Canada, and Japan.  

 

Kit has performed with numerous bands and ensembles and toured throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. He has arranged, composed, and designed for some of the world’s top music ensembles and organizations. These include Cirque du Soleil, SmartMusic, Finale, the University of Georgia, London’s Royal Military Academy, the University of Tennessee, Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corp, Terminus Percussion Theatre, Atlanta Quest, Odyssey Percussion Theatre, and many scholastic groups throughout North America, Europe, and Japan. He has made television appearances on The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Miss Universe Pageant, The Today Show, Regis and Kelly, CNN, PBS, the BBC London, among others.

 

When he is not performing with Cirque du Soleil, Kit continues his involvement with the global music community. Kit also runs his own recording studio and music production company, TikBeats, and is a music producer/casting consultant for both Cirque du Soleil and Walt Disney International. He has published six books on percussion and is co-creator of The Principal Percussion Series for Percussion. Kit continues giving in-person private lessons to aspiring percussionists in the Orlando area.

 

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Kit received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The University of Georgia, where he studied percussion with Dr. Thomas McCutchen and Dr. Arvin Scott. While at Georgia, he instructed, composed, and arranged for the UGA Redcoat Band, played in numerous music ensembles, and toured Europe at many prestigious jazz festivals like the legendary Le Montreux Jazz Festival, the Jazz à Vienne Festival, and the North Seas Jazz Festival with the University jazz ensemble. Kit received his master’s degree in Music Technology from Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah.

 

Kit continues giving clinics and masterclasses on percussion around the world and is a proud endorser of Vic Firth Sticks & Mallets, Yamaha Drums & Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, and Alternate Mode (DrumKat).