Zachary Himelhoch
Zachary Himelhoch is a music educator, performer, producer, author, and clinician. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Performance from Columbia College Chicago and a Masters in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music. Zachary lives in the Chicago area with his Wife and Daughter.
As a World Percussion Specialist in Metro Nashville Public Schools, Zachary developed “The DrumHeadz,” a multi-school performing ensemble dedicated to presenting traditional percussion-led music of the African Diaspora as well as highlighting the commonalities of musical styles throughout the Caribbean, South America and North America. He has presented at events throughout the country including The Midwest Clinic, Vanderbilt University, F-Flat Books Back to School Symposium and The VanderCook College of Music Day of Percussion.
Zachary also teaches online and in-person classes in World Percussion for the Classroom, designed to help teachers integrate world percussion into the classroom setting, as an Adjunct Instructor in the continuing education department at VanderCook College of Music. Zachary owns and operates ZJH Percussion, a company providing instructional programs, presentations, and private tutoring in music and percussion. Through partnerships with Columbia College Chicago’s Community Arts Partnership and the Music Institute of Chicago, ZJH Percussion has introduced music from around the world to underprivileged learners across Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Parks District, and America Scores. Zachary also worked as a touring artist for Urban Gateways, presenting the history of Afro-Cuban music to students throughout the Chicagoland area.
As a performer, Zachary has worked alongside numerous artists including Chance The Rapper, Denny Jiosa, Andy Narell, Lenny Castro, Etienne Charles, The Cool Kids, Daru Jones, Mark Walker, and Dave Garfield. Zachary was recently featured in Chance the Rapper’s new movie. Zachary continues to keep an active schedule and has performed at events including: Lollapalooza, the Detroit Jazz Festival, The Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), The Midwest Clinic, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival Benefit Concert, Windsor Jazz Festival, and the Syracuse Jazz Festival.
Zachary’s first release as an author, Priscilla Plays Percussion, was released as an interactive ebook by F-Flat Books and in print and traditional ebook format by CitySide Books. Priscilla Plays Percussion aims to give young learners an early introduction into the percussion instrument family through the eyes of a young monkey, Priscilla, who is gifted a drum by her Dad.
