Born into a family of diverse musical backgrounds, Robert Chapman began his musical journey at a young age. He discovered a passion for percussion at age 11 and devoted himself to mastering the marimba. His career has since taken him to concert halls around the world, including Costa Rica, Poland, and Belgium, and to studying with stalwarts like Mark Ford, Christopher Deane, Svet Stoyanov, and many others.
Robert has earned international recognition as a marimba soloist, placing in the final rounds of the 2009 US Marine Band Concerto Competition and the 2017 Great Plains International Marimba Competition, and taking first place at the 2009 PASIC Marching Keyboard Competition, the 2016 PASIC International Marimba Solo Competition, and the 2018 Great Plains International Marimba Competition.
His passion for the marimba is matched only in his passion for world music. As a steel drummer, he has performed with notable artists such as Andy Narell and Lord Relator, and he frequently collaborates with his mentors, Poovalur Sriji and Dr. Vivek Virani, in multiple Indian classical Genres.
Robert is proudly endorsed by Innovative Percussion and Tama/Bergerault and is an active arranger, composer, educator, and theorist, serving on the faculty at Barry University.
You can find more of Robert at robertchapmanpercussion.com.