John M. Floyd: percussion

Dr. Floyd has been teaching applied percussion and conducting the University Percussion and Marimba Ensembles at Virginia Tech since 1977. He has also served on the faculties of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, the Eastman School of Music, and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dr. Floyd is presently performing as principal timpanist of the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra, Roanoke Symphony, Opera Roanoke, and Lynchburg Symphony. Formerly principal percussionist and associate principal timpanist with the Richmond Symphony and Richmond Sinfonia, he has also performed with the Rochester Philharmonic and Pittsburgh Opera Theatre. In addition, Dr. Floyd has appeared as a soloist throughout the eastern United States.

He earned the B.M. degree from East Carolina University, the M.M. degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as the Performer’s Certificate and the D.M.A. degree in performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music. His teachers have included David R. Duncan, Robert Rosen, Harold A. Jones, Donald A. Bick, and John H. Beck.

Dr. Floyd’s musical compositions have met with success and have been performed throughout the world. He has studied composition with Gregory Kosteck, Rudolph Crosswell, Paul Dorsam, Samuel Adler, and Warren Benson.