Gordon Rencher

Biography

Gordon Rencher is one of the West Coast's most versatile percussionists. A skilled drum set player and orchestral percussionist, he also performs professionally on latin percussion and steel drum. He is the principal percussionist for the Portland Opera and Oregon Ballet Theater, and has been principal for several area summer music festivals, including the Oregon Bach Festival. He performs frequently with The Oregon Symphony, can be heard on several of their recordings (including two that have been nominated for recent Grammy Awards), and is Portland's "first call" show player for touring Broadway musicals. He has performed with Johnny Mathis, Roberta Flack, Olivia Newton-John, Don Rickles, Peter Cetera, Bernadette Peters, Bela Fleck, The Pointer Sisters, Jerry Lewis, Dave Brubeck, Randy Newman, Arlo Guthrie, Chita Rivera, Dennis DeYoung (Styx), Carol Channing, Marie Osmond, The Moody Blues, Robert Goulet, Shirley Jones, Dudley Moore, along with a host of others. In addition to those of the Oregon Symphony, Gordon can be heard on recordings for Oregon Catholic Press, The Third Angle New Music Ensemble, and folk-rock-blues artist Martha Schuyler Thompson.

Mr. Rencher teaches drum set and percussion in his own studio, and has taught for Western Oregon University, Linfield College, Portland State University, Warner Pacific College, Marylhurst University, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and many area high schools. The composer of two method books; Rhythm and Rudiments Volume 1, and Jazz Basics for Drum Set, Mr. Rencher has also published several pieces for concert and marching percussion through Alfred Music, Matrix Music Publishing, and Drop6 Media. Originally from Boise Idaho, and a graduate of the University of North Texas and veteran of NT's renowned Lab bands, he worked on cruise ships as a drummer and band leader before moving to the Portland area in 1989.