Visiting Artists

Through our Visiting Artist Series, you will receive valuable firsthand career insight from some of the finest performers, songwriters, film composers, music business experts, and music professionals from every sector of the industry.

Browse Percussion Department events or view all upcoming clinics and master classes across Berklee.

Through our Visiting Artist Series, you will receive valuable firsthand career insight from some of the finest performers, songwriters, film composers, music business experts, and music professionals from every sector of the industry. Visiting percussion professionals have included Alex Acuna, Louie Bellson, Gregg Bissonette, Cindy Blackman '80, Terry Bozzio, William Calhoun '86, Dennis Chambers, Mike Clark, Vinnie Colaiuta '75, Peter Erskine H'92, David Friedman, Steve Gadd, Trilok Gurtu, Billy Hart, Horatio Hernandez, Giovanni Hidalgo, Jay Hoggard, Steve Houghton, Akira Jimbo, Will Kennedy, Bernard Purdie, John "J.R." Robinson '75, Antonio Sanchez '97, Trichy Sankaran, Marvin "Smitty" Smith '81, Steve Smith '78, Glen Velez, and Dave Weckl.

Watch a segment of a Berklee drum clinic with Adam Cruz in this video:

Armand Zildjian Artist-in-Residence Program

This annual, three-day event during the fall semester is made possible by the generosity of the Zildjian family, in recognition of Armand Zildjian’s extensive contributions as a trustee and overseer of Berklee College of Music’s mission. Each year, a world-renowned drummer is selected to present a series of clinics, master classes, and a final concert. Past Armand Zildjian Artists-in-Residence include Antonio Sanchez, Simon Phillips, Peter Erskine, Lewis Nash, Steve Smith, Cindy Blackman, and Bill Stewart.