Percussion

NORMAN PECK

Principal

Sponsored by Brett Taylor and Linn Johnson

Norm currently holds the Principal Percussion Chair with the Santa Cruz Symphony, the Lamplighters Music Theatre, West Bay Opera, and the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. He plays jazz with a big band every Monday night when he isn’t working, teaches a large class of private students, and provides instrumental contracting services to a variety of clients.

When he’s not working, Norman is passionately fond of science fiction, cooking, and his cats Luke, Lorelei, and Sookie. In January 2023, he and his wife Lynda celebrated their 41st anniversary.

Tim Dent

Sponsored by Anne Scott

Tim began freelancing in the San Francisco Bay Area while earning his master's degree in Percussion Performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He has played regularly with most of the area's orchestras and performing arts groups. He has been a member of the Santa Cruz Symphony for a long time. As a regular extra with the San Francisco Symphony, Tim has had the opportunity to perform both nationally and internationally as well as record. In 2012 he was part of the American Mavericks Festival with the San Francisco Symphony celebrating that orchestra's 100th birthday. He teaches privately in San Francisco at the French American International School.

KRisten Lou

Sponsored by Ron & 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.