ProdoLAB: Brandon Draper/ Bennett Doyle/ Sascha Groschang

THE LINEUP

Brandon Draper was thumping his leg in the crib and began lessons at age 5, sitting in with his dad’s bands at 9, touring at 14, and while in high school he was a KMEA timpanist 3 years in a row.  His extensive professional resume includes performances with both the New Mexico and Santa Fe Symphony Orchestras and the Kansas City Symphony.  Draper has performed and/or recorded with Ottmar Liebert, DJ Logic, Donna Summer, Mary Wilson, Mose Allison, Steve Coleman, Dick Oatts, Mike Moreno, Bobby Watson, and Kevin Hays.  He toured the U.S. with the live-tronica pioneers Particle and contributed work on their recent album “Accelerator.”  In 2010 he performed and contributed to the score of critically acclaimed hip-hop musical “Venice” in Los Angeles. 

 
Draper has taught at the University of New Mexico, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Johnson County Community College, East Mountain High School, Shawnee Mission West, and Kansas City Academy, led master-classes at the PAS Day of Percussion in many states, and performed at P.A.S.I.C. multiple times.  He has led workshops at Music Educators Association conferences in many states as well.  With the Turkish-Jazz group Alaturka, Draper recorded, co-mixed and performed on the 2013 release Yalniz (4.5 Stars – Best albums of 2013 – Downbeat Magazine). He is the founder of the acclaimed children’s interactive music program Drum Safari that has served children and families throughout the US since 2005. 

Draper is an Associate Professor at the University of Kansas where teaches jazz drums, world percussion, sound design, and is the director of Music Enterprise certificate combining music business and entrepreneurship.  He holds a Bachelor degree in percussion performance from Bethany College, and a Masters of Music (cum laude) from the University of New Mexico.  He is on the board of directors of the Kansas Music Hall of Fame, and advisory board of KJHK, student run radio.

Brandon endorses Zildjian, Vic Firth, Meinl, and Audix Microphones.

Sascha Groschang, cellist, has performed extensively across the United States and Asia.  She has appeared at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall numerous times, and gave her solo debut recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in 2009. She has been a soloist and lecturer at the Thailand International Composition Festival, performed for the King of Malaysia with the Kuala Lumpur International Festival Orchestra, and traveled all across China on two tours with the Mantovani Pops Orchestra. She has shared the stage with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Michael Bublé, Peter Gabriel, Josh Groban, Sarah Mclachlan, Idina Menzel, Amy Grant and her recording credits include NBC, Atlantic, and Rhino Records. Sascha is the cellist and co-composer of the alternative string duo, “The Wires“, which explores a variety of non-traditional string techniques and styles through original compositions.  The Wires have released three full length albums and their arrangements and original compositions are published with Mel Bay Publishing Co.  They are also co-hosts and curators of “Sound Currents” on 91.9 ClassicalKC – a weekly radio program that explores and discovers a broad range of new music. In addition, Sascha is principal cellist of NewEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, and in 2022 joined the St. Petersburg String Quartet – one of the world’s most esteemed chamber ensembles. Their accolades include a Grammy nomination, “Best Record” honors in both Stereo Review and Gramophone, an opening night performance at Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center, a five-year residency at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and hundreds of concerts on 

many of North America, Europe and Asia’s most prestigious series and festivals.   Sascha lives in midtown Kansas City with her husband, three Persian cats and two small daughters. www.cellolady.com