Biography:

Zach is the Assistant Principal Timpanist/Section Percussionist of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Prior to joining the orchestra, he was the Principal Timpanist of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Zach began his percussion studies with Robin Reid, and later, with Aaron McDonald at the VSO School of Music. He went on to attend Northwestern University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s of Music in Percussion Performance and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication Studies. He studied primarily with She-e Wu. Zach then moved to New York to complete his Master’s in Orchestral Performance at the Manhattan School of Music. He studied with Chris Lamb and Kyle Zerna of the New York Philharmonic, Duncan Patton and Steven White of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, as well as She-e Wu.

Zach has been a recipient of the Stephen and Elaine Stamas Grant, awarded to a full-time student of a New York Philharmonic musician, selected by the musicians of the New York Philharmonic. He has performed with the Vancouver Opera, Vancouver Island Symphony, Symphony 21, and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada. He has toured Canada with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and spent a summer at the Aspen Music Festival under a fellowship.