Percussion

NORMAN PECK

Principal

Sponsored by Brett Taylor and Lynn Johnson

Norm currently holds the Principal Percussion Chair with the Santa Cruz Symphony, the Lamplighters Music Theatre where he is also the Orchestra Contractor, and West Bay Opera. He plays jazz with a big band every Monday night when he isn’t working and provides instrumental contracting services to a variety of clients. 

A popular educator, Norm has visited over 150 Santa Cruz County classrooms to universal acclaim, demonstrating his percussion instruments and preparing the students to attend our Youth Concerts. 

Norm is passionately fond of science fiction, making sausage, and his cats Luke, Lorelei, and Sookie.  In January 2025, he and his wife Lynda celebrated their 43rd Anniversary.

KRisten Lou

Sponsored by Ron and Cindy Sekkel

Prior to joining the Santa Cruz Symphony in 2016, Kris previously held positions with the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra and the Terre Haute Symphony.  In addition, he held the Principal Percussion chairs for the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra and the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, where he also served as the Principal Timpanist for a season.  Locally, Kris can be found freelancing around the Bay Area.

After graduating from San Jose State University, Kris earned the Master’s and Doctor of Music degrees from Indiana University.  While there, he was a member of their New Music Ensemble for four years, and was featured in the North American premiere of Unsuk Chin’s Double Concerto for piano, percussion, and ensemble.

When not obliterating eardrums (with precision, sensitivity, and musicality), Kris and his wife Kumiko can be found attempting to raise a small child and two cocker spaniels, usually involving drinking coffee and wine in equal amounts.  On other days, he is usually engrossed in maximizing backend efficiencies of hardware and software platforms while trying to justify purchasing another percussion instrument.