Todd Jelinek - Illinois, USA
Since he was an infant,
Todd Jelinek has been engrossed in a world of tinkering with sound. Todd began
studying piano at age 4 and during his high school years was recognized with
numerous awards for his solo piano performances. Todd also discovered a passion
for percussion, especially in the world of Middle-Eastern hand drumming through
which he has an ancestral connection. While studying percussion at Northern Illinois
University, Todd received a USOAR grant
that allowed him to visit and study with renowned Russian multi-instrumentalist
and composer Vladiswar Nadishana in Berlin,
Germany.
Through the same grant, Todd also traveled to Austria where he studied with
virtuosic Persian percussionists Behnam and Reza Samani of Ensemble
Zarbang. Todd first encountered steelpan at NIU where he was immediately
impressed with the brilliant tone of the instrument and the virtuosity of the
pan players he met there. He has been playing pan ever since as a member of the
NIU Steelband and has primarily focused on the cello pans. In addition to his
percussion compositions, Todd has composed works for steel ensemble, solo cello
pans, and a tenor pan solo that was premiered in Trinidad.
Having completed his bachelors degree in Percussion Performance, Todd looks to
continue performing, composing, and teaching in the west-suburban Chicagoland
area.