Known for his sensitive and pianistic music making, Chandler is an active marimbist and freelancing percussionist based in New York City, NY. He has performed numerous solo, chamber, and orchestral works throughout the USA, Europe and Asia with a wide array of ensembles such as: The Boston Ballet School, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Trentino Festival Orchestra (Italy), Brookline Symphony, Ideas Not Theories Theatrical Percussion Show, and many more.
His passion lies in performing and teaching marimba and percussion. He is currently a percussion instructor specializing in marimba at West Chester University for the 2024-2025 academic year. Chandler also runs a private teaching studio in Williamsburg NY.
Chandler has a pianistic approach and values technical fluidity on the marimba. He has adapted and performed many works originally intended for piano including works by Grieg, Ravel, Sibelius and more. Regarding his sensitivity in orchestral percussion, the Boston Classical Review wrote, “It sounds as if the cymbals are singing.”
Through his commissions, arrangements and adaptations, Chandler has expanded marimba repertoire to include more works by young student composers as well as composers from the Western classical canon. He has adapted piano, guitar, and string music for solo marimba and marimba in mixed-chamber ensembles.
Chandler’s percussion duo with April Ong (ACnd Duo, pronounced “Ascend”) were 1st place winners of the 2023 Great Plains International Marimba Competition Duo Division. ACnd Duo was also named Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s “Honors Chamber Ensemble” for the 2023-2024 concert season, as well as being semi-finalists in the 2023 Southern California International Artist Competition Duo Division. Chandler was also a finalist in the 2018 International Online Mallet Percussion Competition, and a semi-finalist in the 2023 Great Plains International Marimba Competition Open Solo Division. Chandler was also the Trentino Music Festival (Italy) percussion fellow in 2018 and 2019.
Chandler has a M.M. in Marimba Performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where he studied with internationally renowned marimbist Nancy Zeltsman, and percussionist Jon Bisesi. Chandler also holds a Bachelor degree in Percussion Performance from the same institution where he studied with Zeltsman and Bisesi, as well as former Boston Symphony Orchestra percussionist Kyle Brightwell, and Samuel Z. Solomon. Chandler is also working on his Alexander Technique Teaching Training Certification with professor Debi Adams. He formerly attended Interlochen Arts Academy between 2016-2018 studying with percussionist Keith Aleo. Before that he was a student of Brian Slawson.
Chandler is proudly endorsed by SchlagKraft mallets.
