Brice Burton
Principal Percussion
Originally from San Diego, Brice Burton received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in Percussion Performance at the University of Southern California, studying with Jim Babor and Joseph Pereira. Burton was a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, Music Academy of the West, National Orchestral Institute, and Round Top Festival Institute. In 2014, he won first place in the Modern Snare Drum Competition.
Burton occasionally performs with the Charleston Symphony, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, and San Diego Symphony, and has also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He teaches privately from his home studio and endorses Ludwig-Musser (local to Monroe, NC).
He resides happily in Matthews, NC, with his wife, cat, and miniature dachshund. Outside of the Orchestra, you can find him walking or biking one of our beautiful greenways, exploring new Asian restaurants, or grilling something at home.
What's an interesting tidbit about how you chose your instrument?
When I was seven, I had just quit playing piano and saw a percussionist performing with an orchestra. They looked really active, and like they were having lots of fun, so I begged my mom for lessons for my birthday!
What is your funniest/most compelling on-stage moment?
I was at a summer program in high school and was playing timpani on Elgar's Enigma Variations when the pedal on the lowest drum got stuck. This happened right before a part where the percussionist comes over and plays on the timpani with snare drumsticks, and because it's an interesting sound, people in the audience always look (it's also lightly orchestrated there). The pedal wouldn't budge with my foot, so I crouched down on the floor and started pulling on it, somewhat unaware of what was going on around me. Apparently, I was making a bunch of noise, and the guy playing my drum had to bend over and whisper to me, "Just let it go." I looked back up, and the whole audience was looking at me. The conductor looked furious.
What's your favorite thing about living in Charlotte?
I love our green spaces and trees; we have beautiful nature here.
