Ian Gibson resides in Sudbury, ontario and has been the Head of Percussion Studies at both CAmbrian College and Laurentian University since 2005. He is alsothe Principal Percussionist and Timpanist with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra; a position he has held for the past six seasons. Ian has also become a certified Yamaha Drum Set instructor (2010) and a trained Remo HealthRHYTHMS Falsilitator (2011). In March of 2012, he joined the Drumming Faculty of Balmoral School of Piping and Drumming as a Scottish Bass and Tenor Drum Specialist.
From 1998-2004 he attended the University of Toronto, where he received botha Bachelor and Master Degree in Percussion Performance. His principal teachers were Russell Hartenberger, Beverly Johnston, and John Rudolph. He was also a member of the University of Toronto Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Robin Engleman and traveled to Philadelphia to study with Alan Abel. While completing his Undergraduate Degree Ian became the first Canadian Percussionist to be awarded both the Sabian PASIC Scholarship and the Zildjian Percussion Scholarship.
Ian regularly performs as a soloist with various orchestra and chamber ensembles throughout Ontario. He is a founding member of Duo Libre, a flute and percussion duo with his wife Rachel. In the Fall of 2011 Ian became the Scottish Bass Drummer for The Ruff Drags; a multi-style fusion drumming ensemble. He also created, along with New York City Percussionist Michael Eagle, the Eagle-Gibson percussion duo.
As a diversion, Ian is involved in both teaching and playing with Scottish Pipe Bands. He has lead Bass and Tenor Sections, in Grade 1 and 2, which have won multiple North American, Canadian and united States Open Championships. In 2001, Ian was instrumental in the Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band winning the Grade 2 - World Bass Section Championship in Glasgow, Scotland. Since then he has been a member of Pipers' and Pipe Band Society of Ontario Music Board and has adjudicated and conducted Bass and Tenor Drum workshops held during the PAS Kosa NYC, "Weekend of Percussion." As the lead drummer and instructor of the Nickel City Highlanders Pipe Band he is helping to develop Scottish Drumming throughout Northern Ontario.
Ian is an Innovative Percussion Artist and a member of the Black Swamp Percussion Educator Network.
