Eric Paton
Professor of Percussion
A world percussionist drawn to the intersection of movement and music, Eric Paton has accompanied Dunham and Ailey classes for April Berry and performed with Aretha Franklin, Tito Puente Jr., Sir Roland Hannah, Bobby Shew, Carmen Cavallaro, Mojoflo, Wande African Dance Company of Liberia, Waves de Ach茅, Milano La Scala (Italian National Opera - La Boheme - Japan Tour), TINA- The Tina Turner Musical, Ain't Too Proud, Hiuchi Taiko, Yumbamb茅 Salsa, and Eitetsu Hayashi.
Introduced to kumi daiko by his twin Stuart, (Burlington Taiko) Eric composed a Jazz Ballet featuring a taiko overture for Ballet Metropolitan.
In 2004, Eric was honored to begin his study with Eitetsu Hayashi and Fuun No Kai during the Eitetsu Hayashi International Ohio Taiko Project (Ohio Arts Council
- Dr. Wayne Lawson / Dublin Arts Council - Carol Argiro) at Capital University in the World Music Lab. He served as project interpreter.
Paton has presented for PASIC, MENC and Remo Inc, International Kodaly Conference, IAJE International Jazz Education Association, Ballet Metropolitan, Opera Columbus, CSO, Arts Midwest and higher education. He has served on the PASIC World Planning Committee, chaired an international search for tenure track position and is former Vice President of the Ohio chapter of the Percussive Arts Society.
Paton holds degrees from Capital University Conservatory of Music - Bachelor of Music - Jazz Studies) and 91探花 MM, where he serves as Adjunct Faculty. He has held teaching positions at Capital University ('90-'24), Kenyon College, Mount Vernon Nazarene College and Fort Hayes M.E.C.
Paton continues to share taiko with 30,000+ K-12 students through assemblies and workshops in schools.