Charlie Tran
Charlie Tran
INDEPENDENT ARTIST, EDUCATOR
Charlie Tran grew up in San Jose, CA and began playing percussion in his high-school band at Silver Creek High School. Over the last eight years, Charlie has continued to develop as an exceptional percussionist in both concert and marching performance.
Charlie is currently in his fifth and final year at San Jose State University in pursuit of his music education degree with a concentration in instrumental music. He spent four years studying percussion with renowned percussion instructor Galen Lemmon. While taking lessons with Professor Lemmon, Charlie showed rapid rates of improvement in his playing. His growth and experience led him to win the principal percussionist spot of the SJSU Wind Ensemble.
As a member of the SJSU percussion studio, Charlie was involved in the West Coast premieres of Daiki Kato’s “The Last Game” and Alejandro Viñao’s “Stress and Flow.” Along with his classical training, Charlie’s marching history includes performing with Tri-City Percussion and the San Jose State Spartan Marching Band, where he served as Drum Captain for two years.
Charlie has established himself as a well-known freelance percussionist and percussion instructor in Santa Clara County. Charlie has played in some of San Jose’s finest ensembles including the California Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the San Jose Wind Symphony, and the San Jose Youth Symphony. As a percussion instructor, Charlie has taught marching and concert percussion at high schools across the Bay Area. He currently serves as a front ensemble instructor for the Del Mar High School Marching Band as well as the Westmont High School Warrior Marching Regiment.
“My main goals as an educator are to help students develop their foundational technique and become the best musicians they can be.” -Charlie Tran