{"id":121635,"date":"2026-02-10T15:42:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T20:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=121635"},"modified":"2026-02-11T17:30:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T22:30:34","slug":"interview-21st-century-canadian-snare-drum-percussionist-ryan-scott-talks-new-album","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/02\/10\/interview-21st-century-canadian-snare-drum-percussionist-ryan-scott-talks-new-album\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | 21st-Century Canadian Snare Drum: Percussionist Ryan Scott Talks About His New Album"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Percussionist
Percussionist Ryan Scott (Photo: Brian Mosoff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 21st-Century Canadian Snare Drum might seem like a fairly limited category. It\u2019s also the name of the upcoming release by Toronto percussionist Ryan Scott, and after having a listen, limitation is definitely not the idea that comes to mind.<\/p>\n

The album is available on February 13, 2026, on the Montr\u00e9al-based Collection QB, the label created by Quatour Bozzini<\/strong>, and distributed by DAME.<\/p>\n

Scott is a marimba and multi-percussionist, and currently the Artistic Director of Continuum Contemporary Music. He\u2019s performed extensively at contemporary music festivals in North America, Europe, Japan, China, Indonesia, South Africa, the UK and The Netherlands. He\u2019s a frequent guest performer with ensembles such as Esprit Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and The Austin Symphony, among others.<\/p>\n

Ryan studied at the University of Toronto, where he earned a Bachelor\u2019s, Master\u2019s and PhD degrees in percussion. Today, he teaches at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, and at the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.<\/p>\n

We caught up with Scott to talk about his two-disc CD, featuring commissioned works by 14 Canadian composers.<\/p>\n

\"From
From the album cover for 21st Century Canadian Snare Drum by Ryan Scott (Graphic Design, from an original idea by Jean-Fran\u00e7ois Denis, and Production Marie-Pierre Morin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ryan Scott: The Interview<\/h2>\n

The release features new music by Nicole Liz\u00e9e, Anna H\u00f6stman, Bekah Simms, Michael Oesterle, Andrew Staniland, Emilie Cecilia LeBel, Amy Brandon, Monica Pearce and others. Here\u2019s the track list:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • 1. Andrew Staniland \u2014 ANTIGRAVITYDRUM 06:53<\/li>\n
  • 2. Bekah Simms \u2014 Skinscape IV<\/li>\n
  • 3. Michael Oesterle \u2014 hush<\/li>\n
  • 4. Christina Volpini \u2014 only ghosts 07:39<\/li>\n
  • 5. Amy Brandon \u2014 Sepals<\/li>\n
  • 6. Monica Pearce \u2014 Time and Effort<\/li>\n
  • 7. Vincent Ho \u2014 Snap Noir<\/li>\n
  • 8. Brian Current \u2014 Infantry<\/li>\n
  • 9. Emilie Cecilia LeBel \u2014 heirloom<\/li>\n
  • 10. Jason Doell \u2014 of material signs and breaks 06:29<\/li>\n
  • 11. Hiroki Tsurumoto \u2014 equipo de sonido<\/li>\n
  • 12. Kati Ag\u00f3cs \u2014 FOMO<\/li>\n
  • 13. Anna H\u00f6stman \u2014 pebbles<\/li>\n
  • 14. Nicole Liz\u00e9e \u2014 The Far Night.fm 06:39<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The humble snare drum is where many percussionists\u2019 journeys begin, and it\u2019s in common use around the world. The album showcases the wide breadth of possibilities for the instrument, as it showcases the work of Canadian composers.<\/p>\n

    \u201cFirst of all, I chose the snare drum because it\u2019s really the mother instrument of percussionists,\u201d Scott begins. He points out that capability on the snare drum is key to percussion techniques overall.<\/p>\n

    That\u2019s why it\u2019s typically used for drummer\u2019s auditions. \u201cThey start with snare drum, because you can tell right away if they have the skills necessary for the job,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s a tradition that goes back hundreds of years.\u201d<\/p>\n