Dan Ogrodnik is part of a new generation of percussionists who combine the dedication and precise technique required for classical and contemporary western compositions with the unique sounds and techniques of traditional world music. Dan’s impassioned study of and veneration for contemporary percussion repertoire of the 20th century serves as the groundwork for a larger understanding of the structures of music from many diverse cultures.



Dan is an active part of the West Coast new music scene and has performed and recorded in a wide variety of projects and studios, most notably The Getty Villa and Capitol studio A and B. He has played for acts such as Kan Wakan, Laura Jean Anderson, Jonah Christian, Sofi Mkheyan, Milen Kirov, Alex Emami, Sin Color, Izela, Dhara, The Milky Way, Zaub, Iridas, Jxel Rajchenberg, Saba Alizadeh, Housewarming Project, Genevieve Birchman, Ragged Silk, Bella Strings, Saga Strings, Gin & Lace, Pontea, and more. Recent appearances include Izela at the Getty alongside Four Larks' revolutionary site-specific opera katabasis. Dan also performed in the West Coast premiere of Inuksuit by John Luther Adams, curated by Steve Schick. doumbek, riq, frame drumming,

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Dan is an accompanist at the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance in Los Angeles, providing live musical performances for classes including Contemporary, Afro-Cuban, Partnering, Modern, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Commercial Dance, Dunham Technique, Improvisation, guest clinicians and more. Some of the world-class dance instructors Dan has accompanied include Patrick Corbin, Saleemah Knight, Dwight Rhoden, Anindo Marshall, Victor Quijada, Jennifer McQuiston Lott, Thomas McManus, Alison D'Amato, Osnel Delgado, Hai Cohen, Desmond Richardson, Brian Brooks, Moncell Durden, Jillian Davis, Terk Lewis Waters, Clifford Williams, Dancerpalooza, and the Complexions Contemporary Ballet Summer Intensive. Dan has also composed and performed original music for choreography staged by USC Kaufman.
 

Dan has studied percussion from all over the world, including steel drums from Trinidad, North and South Indian tabla and kanjira, doumbek, riq, frame drumming, Afro-Cuban, comparsa ensemble, Ghanaian Ewe drumming, Arabic salsa bands, Persian daf and tonbak, Brazilian pandeiro, and carnaval instruments. He is frequently called on to perform with master musicians and elite students in many genres, including recent performances with Vinny Golia and Sulley Imoro. He has also been called to perform for King Salman of Saudi Arabia.

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Dan completed his MFA in Multi-Focus Percussion in 2015 at California Institute of the Arts, studying with Randy Gloss, Swapan Chaudhuri, Houman Pourmehdi, Andrew Grueschow, David Johnson, and Aaron Serfaty. Dan completed a BM in Percussion Performance in 2009 from the Hartt School of Music at The University of Hartford where he studied with Ben Toth, Shane Shanahan, Joe Galeota, Nebojša Jovan Živkovic, Rogerio Boccato, Robert Black, and John Amira. Throughout his education he has participated in master classes with renowned percussionists including Katarzyna Mycka, Randy Gloss, Michael Udow, Nebojša Jovan Živkovic, Perry Dreiman, David Johnson, Vinny Golia, and Gregg Bendian. Dan is a clinician with Izela and as a solo artist.