Title: Teaching Artist, Percussion

Phone: (515) 271-4011

Rick Wynant earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He studied snare drum and drum set under Fred Buda, of the Boston Symphony, and Alan Dawson, of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. After graduating from Berklee, Rick continued his studies with master jazz drummer Joe Morello of the Dave Brubeck Quartet.

Rick started performing as a teenager in a local group, The Princemen. This group was later inducted into the Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Over the years, Rick has performed locally with the Don Hoy Orchestra, the John Morgan Orchestra, the West Des Moines Dixieland Band, the Maple Street Jazz Band, the Big Band Sound and the Des Moines Municipal Band. Other performances include the Bix Beiderbeck Jazz Festival, a show for comedian Bob Newhart, WHO TV 13’s “Beat The Bear Show” with Jim Zabel, the “Jazz in July” series, and the Stagewest Theatre Company. Rick has performed with musical groups that have played for Governor Chet Culver, former Governor Terry Branstad, Senator Tom Harkin, former President George HW Bush and Presidential Candidate H. Ross Perot. In addition to performing, Rick has composed, produced and performed on radio commercials. Rick is also a member of the Des Moines Musicians Association, American Federation of Musicians, Local 75.

Rick has been a faculty member of the Drake University Community School of Music since September, 1993.