Arnold Riedhammer

Arnold F.Riedhammer, percussionist and composer much sought after in the fields of classical music as well as rock, pop and jazz, was born in Somerville, New Jersey, USA, of German parents. From 1966 to 1970, he studied at the Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich, passing his final examination with honours in 1970. After working as a solo timpanist in Nuremberg and Bonn, Riedhammer has been the solo percussionist with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra since 1974. He is also a lecturer at the Academy of Music in Munich.

1980: Soloist examination at the National Academy of Music Trossingen (instrument: solo percussion)
1981: National Sponsorship Award for percussion - the first time ever a percussionist received this award.

Numerous TV, radio and record productions featuring percussion concerts, for example, with Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Riedhammer wrote several title songs and music for commercials commisioned by the Bavaria Broadcasting Co.

As a classical percussionist he has performed, for example, with Leonard Bernstein, Sergiu Celebidache, Herbert von Karajan, Seiji Ozowa, Sir George Solti, Zubin Mehta, James Levine, Lorin Maazel etc.

In the field of pop and rock music, he has recorded and toured with: The Rolling Stones, Freddie Mercury and Queen, Lisa Minelli, Liberace, Chris de Burgh, Donna Summer, Randy Crawford, Henri Mancini, Jerry Goldsmith, Elmar Bernstein, Lawrence Rosenthal etc.

Additionally, Arnold F. Riedhammer gives clinics courses and workshops and plays solo percussion concerts both in Germany and abroad.

Arnold is and endorser of PEARL drums, ZILDJIAN cymbals and gongs, REMO heads and his ZILDJIAN signature stick.