A native of Prince Edward Island, Canada, Graeme Francis received an Undergraduate degree in Honors Music Education from the University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario, a Masters in Percussion Performance at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Texas at Austin. His percussion teachers include Jill Ball, Thomas Burritt, Doug Howard, Kalman Cherry, Ed Smith, Tony Edwards, Brannen Temple, Daniel Glass, and Carl Allen.
Dr. Francis is currently Adjunct Professor of Percussion at The College of St. Rose in Albany, NY, where he teaches percussion and drum set lessons, and directs the Percussion Ensemble. Additionally, he is responsible for similar duties at Hartwick College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Previously, Dr. Francis served as Percussion Lecturer at the University of Texas at San Antonio from 2006 to 2016, where he has also taught Rock and Roll History, Jazz History, and was the founding member, drummer, and director of the UTSA Faculty Jazz Combo, which has performed with a wide variety of local and national jazz figures. Dr. Francis was nominated for UTSA's 2016 President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching.
A versatile performer, Mr. Francis's orchestral work includes dates with the San Antonio Symphony, San Antonio Opera, Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio, Victoria Bach Festival Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Austin, Mid-Texas Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony, Prince Edward Island Symphony, Rome Festival Orchestra, Schenectady Symphony, and Albany Pro Musica, in addition to a multitude of chamber ensembles such as the American Repertory Ensemble, Revel, and SOLI Chamber Ensemble, and Line Upon Line. He has been featured on drum set with such jazz luminaries as vibraphonist Ed Smith, trombonist Bill Watrous, bassist Chris Thomas, trumpeters Pete Rodriguez and Ray Vega, and pianist Doc Watkins. Dr. Francis has performed both in Canada and the United States as one half of the Schumann-Francis piano/percussion duo, whose live performances from the Victoria Bach Festival have been broadcast nationally on American Public Media’s Performance Today (Listen here). The Austin Critic's Table named the Schumann-Francis Duo one of the Top Ten Classical Musical Treasures of 2011.
Mr. Francis is also a highly sought after session musician, having recorded a number of records for Austin, TX recording studios including Star Seven Media, Congress House Studio, Church House Studio, Infinity Studios, 12th Street Sound, and Blue Rock Studios, in addition to major recordings for the Gasparo, Parma, Navona, and Naxos labels. Upcoming releases include a new commission by Revel from composer Stephen Barber, which was premiered and recorded in the summer of 2016. Additionally, a new record from the Doc Watkins Trio, Swingin' From San Antonio is now available from iTunes, Google Play, and other online retailers. For a sneak peak at this record, click here. Thanks to Chris Cline for the vintage mono mix of this take.
Dr. Francis has been a member of the Austin Chamber Music Center (ACMC) faculty since 2006, coaching chamber groups and percussion classes at ACMC's annual summer Chamber Music Workshop as well as performing during their concert season and summer Chamber Music Festival. He has also worked as the Music Director and percussionist for The American Repertory Ensemble (ARE). Over a dozen of his solo performances with ARE and ACMC have been nominated for Outstanding Solo Instrumental and Chamber Music Performance by the Austin Critics' Table.
A dedicated academic, Dr. Francis’ research has focused primarily on the appropriation of instruments from the Ottoman Classical tradition by Western European powers. The goal of this research is to show specific musical links between these two musical traditions in an attempt to understand more fully the origins of Western European percussion history.
Dr. Francis endorses Vic Firth sticks and mallets, Zildjian Cymbals, Yamaha Percussion instruments, Remo Drumheads, and is a member of the Scholarly Research Committee of the Percussive Arts Society.
Dr. Francis is currently Adjunct Professor of Percussion at The College of St. Rose in Albany, NY, where he teaches percussion and drum set lessons, and directs the Percussion Ensemble. Additionally, he is responsible for similar duties at Hartwick College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Previously, Dr. Francis served as Percussion Lecturer at the University of Texas at San Antonio from 2006 to 2016, where he has also taught Rock and Roll History, Jazz History, and was the founding member, drummer, and director of the UTSA Faculty Jazz Combo, which has performed with a wide variety of local and national jazz figures. Dr. Francis was nominated for UTSA's 2016 President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching.
A versatile performer, Mr. Francis's orchestral work includes dates with the San Antonio Symphony, San Antonio Opera, Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio, Victoria Bach Festival Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Austin, Mid-Texas Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony, Prince Edward Island Symphony, Rome Festival Orchestra, Schenectady Symphony, and Albany Pro Musica, in addition to a multitude of chamber ensembles such as the American Repertory Ensemble, Revel, and SOLI Chamber Ensemble, and Line Upon Line. He has been featured on drum set with such jazz luminaries as vibraphonist Ed Smith, trombonist Bill Watrous, bassist Chris Thomas, trumpeters Pete Rodriguez and Ray Vega, and pianist Doc Watkins. Dr. Francis has performed both in Canada and the United States as one half of the Schumann-Francis piano/percussion duo, whose live performances from the Victoria Bach Festival have been broadcast nationally on American Public Media’s Performance Today (Listen here). The Austin Critic's Table named the Schumann-Francis Duo one of the Top Ten Classical Musical Treasures of 2011.
Mr. Francis is also a highly sought after session musician, having recorded a number of records for Austin, TX recording studios including Star Seven Media, Congress House Studio, Church House Studio, Infinity Studios, 12th Street Sound, and Blue Rock Studios, in addition to major recordings for the Gasparo, Parma, Navona, and Naxos labels. Upcoming releases include a new commission by Revel from composer Stephen Barber, which was premiered and recorded in the summer of 2016. Additionally, a new record from the Doc Watkins Trio, Swingin' From San Antonio is now available from iTunes, Google Play, and other online retailers. For a sneak peak at this record, click here. Thanks to Chris Cline for the vintage mono mix of this take.
Dr. Francis has been a member of the Austin Chamber Music Center (ACMC) faculty since 2006, coaching chamber groups and percussion classes at ACMC's annual summer Chamber Music Workshop as well as performing during their concert season and summer Chamber Music Festival. He has also worked as the Music Director and percussionist for The American Repertory Ensemble (ARE). Over a dozen of his solo performances with ARE and ACMC have been nominated for Outstanding Solo Instrumental and Chamber Music Performance by the Austin Critics' Table.
A dedicated academic, Dr. Francis’ research has focused primarily on the appropriation of instruments from the Ottoman Classical tradition by Western European powers. The goal of this research is to show specific musical links between these two musical traditions in an attempt to understand more fully the origins of Western European percussion history.
Dr. Francis endorses Vic Firth sticks and mallets, Zildjian Cymbals, Yamaha Percussion instruments, Remo Drumheads, and is a member of the Scholarly Research Committee of the Percussive Arts Society.