River Guerguerian has been inspiring audiences with his ecstatic and versatile percussion for 40 years. Whether collaborating with world-class artists, supporting symphonies or creating his own dynamic explorations of rhythm, River’s devotion and attention to the vibrant life of the drum reverberate through the mind and soul of the listener.

River was born in Montreal to Armenian-Syrian-Egyptian parents and began his cross-cultural journey into music at a young age. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from The Manhattan School of Music Conservatory in 1989 and was granted the school’s “Most Outstanding Percussionist” award.

In 1988 he began working with Grammy and Oscar-winning composer, Tan Dun. Over the next several years he continued performing with several artists, which placed him in the prestigious concert halls of most major cities of the globe, including Carnegie Hall, The Sydney Opera House and Lincoln Center.

As a highly regarded studio musician, River has recorded on over 350 albums and film soundtracks, including the John Cage documentary film, “I Have Nothing to Say and I Am Saying It." Over the whole of his prolific career, he has performed and/or recorded internationally with such individual and groups as the BBC Concert Orchestra, Paul Winter Consort, Lizz Wright, Chuck Berry, Sophie B. Hawkins, Ziggy Marley, Gipsy Kings, New Music Consort, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Tibetan Singing Bowl Ensemble, and Talujon Percussion Ensemble. River also engineers his own percussion tracks for artists at his recording studio.

In 1994, River decided to sell all of his possessions and step off of the grid. He resided in a wildlife sanctuary in the Himalayas, and partly in Northern Maui. The adventure lasted for five years and led to his immersion, extensive research and experimentation in the realm of the physiological, emotional, and mental effects of sound.

Drawing upon his richly diverse experiences, River’s work spans a remarkable number of musical genres and traditions, both mainstream and obscure. His authentic and masterful sound are derived from an array of ancient and modern percussion instruments from the 30 countries he has visited. His compositions have been commissioned and performed by chamber ensembles, universities, modern dance companies, and international music festivals.

As a respected music educator, River is music director of the Odyssey Community School in Asheville, NC, conducts rhythm and sound exploration workshops throughout the country, and also enjoys teaching privately. He has touched the lives of thousands of students of all ages.

Since 1999, River has lived in the beautiful mountains outside of Asheville, NC. He founded the global music ensemble Free Planet Radio, and in 2012 he founded Asheville Rhythm, which hosts weekly classes, recordings, and the annual Asheville Percussion Festival. This down-home, world class experience attracts people from near and far for education, fellowship, and renewal in both their drumming practices and their lives.

            Visit him at www.ShareTheDrum.com

“Guerguerian’s composition, sensationally performed, devoted itself even more religiously to the possibilities of pure sound.”

              —The New York Times