Ben Reimer, Percussion

Ben Reimer graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 2001 with a Masters in Music, majoring in Percussion Performance. While on full scholarship at Stony Brook, he studied 20th century percussion repertoire and chamber music under the direction of Raymond des Roches. In Montreal, Ben studied with OSM timpanist Andrei Malashenko and McGill University instructors Pierre Béluse and D'Arcy Philip Gray, where he received his Bachelor of Music.

In September 2003, Ben began his position as Coordinator of Percussion Studies at Brandon University while continuing a full schedule of performances and teaching engagements in Winnipeg. In 2006 he also began teaching at the Canadian Mennonite University. Ben makes time for his private percussion studio in Winnipeg as well as clinics and adjudications through out Canada.

Ben has performed with the Thunder Bay Symphony, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Manitoba Opera Society and GroundSwell. He has also been a guest soloist at the Brandon University "Pro Series" and the Winnipeg New Music Festival. He has performed world premiers of works by such composers as Michael Matthews, David Raphael Scott, Ellen Lindquist, Jerry Semchyshyn and Nicole Lizée. In 2006 Ben commissioned the percussion solo "Train Set" by composer Eliot Britton for drumset and 5.1 surround sound effects.

Ben can also be found playing drumset for various Winnipeg bands across Canada. He has toured North America with funk/fusion band Moses Mayes, playing such events as The Jazz Winnipeg Festival, Victoria and Vancouver Jazz Festivals, and the 10,000 Lakes Festival. He has recorded with Maiko Watson (formerly of Sugar Jones) and is currently playing for Jessee Havey (ex-lead singer of Gammy nominated band, The Duhks).