Dan Walzer is a Minneapolis-based drummer, percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, producer and educator. Currently on the Audio Production faculty of the Art Institutes International of Minnesota, Walzer has made Minneapolis home since 2010. Born in Lexington, Walzer spent most of his formative years in Cincinnati, OH. As a young musician, he started playing professionally at the age of sixteen and by eighteen had already performed as a concerto soloist with the Cincinnati Youth Symphony Orchestra and in joint concerts with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras under the direction of Elizabeth Stoyanovich, Jesus Lopez Cobos, Chelsea Tipton, Kimo Furumoto and Keith Lockhart respectively. While in high school, Walzer studied with acclaimed percussionist Scott Lang. Walzer also serves on the faculty at Bowling Green Technical College and was a former instructor at the University of Cincinnati's Prep Department for Music.
With an extensive discography of more than twenty-five albums, Walzer has studied, performed and recorded music all around the world, including Brazil, Spain, and all across North America. A Magna Cum Laude graduate of the prestigious College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati and Bowling Green State University, Walzer holds a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Jazz Studies. His primary teachers included Roger Schupp, Eric Sooy, Rusty Burge, John Von Ohlen, Gerald Cleaver, Steve Barnes, Marc Wolfley, Jorge Do Brazil, Christiano Rocha and Dann Sherrill.
Walzer’s distinct individual style coupled with a clear and concise musical sense have garnered him performance opportunities with some of the most sought-after players in the United States. Among those Walzer has performed and/or recorded with include Joshua Redman, Fred Hersch, Frank Vignola, John Zappa, Jeff Halsey, Russell Schmidt, Erwin Stuckey, Chris Berg, Curtis Fuller, Adam Nitti, Grammy Nominated Producer Ric Hordinski, the Manhattan Transfer, Keith Lockhart, Brad Goode, Pharez Whited, Rob Fetters, Dave Isaacs, Kim Taylor, Chris Buzzelli, Tracy Walker, Adam Smith and a 2006 nationwide tour with acclaimed guitarist Rodney Branigan.
Many of Walzer’s arrangements and compositions have been featured in film, video, and across the spectrum of media. As an executive producer, projects under Walzer's watch have been nominated for Cincinnati Entertainment Awards and received airplay on more than one hundred stations across North America. Walzer's composition Thank You was the inspiration of a 2003 short film called Invisible Me, which was released by Swan Dive Films. The work was featured at the 2003 Chicks with Flicks Film Festival. His other works have been heard on MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge and Trippin'. As an educator many of Walzer’s former students have been accepted to CCM, NKU, ETSU and other prestigious universities. Walzer’s unbridled passion and extreme versatility make him a valuable asset in the studio and on stage, and his ever-evolving style continues to impress those he works with on a daily basis.
As a radio professional, Walzer has conducted dozens of interviews with high profile authors, musicians, industry insiders and political figures. An experienced producer and air talent, his work has been heard on the nationally syndicated Valentine in the Morning, Citadel Broadcasting, Cox Radio, 5 Star Radio, the Granting Dreams Foundation, Indieheaven.com, and currently with the CHRSN (Christian Hit Radio Satellite Network).
Many of Walzer’s arrangements and compositions have been featured in film, video, and across the spectrum of media. As an executive producer, projects under Walzer's watch have been nominated for Cincinnati Entertainment Awards and received airplay on more than one hundred stations across North America. Walzer's composition Thank You was the inspiration of a 2003 short film called Invisible Me, which was released by Swan Dive Films. The work was featured at the 2003 Chicks with Flicks Film Festival. His other works have been heard on MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge and Trippin'. As an educator many of Walzer’s former students have been accepted to CCM, NKU, ETSU and other prestigious universities. Walzer’s unbridled passion and extreme versatility make him a valuable asset in the studio and on stage, and his ever-evolving style continues to impress those he works with on a daily basis.
As a radio professional, Walzer has conducted dozens of interviews with high profile authors, musicians, industry insiders and political figures. An experienced producer and air talent, his work has been heard on the nationally syndicated Valentine in the Morning, Citadel Broadcasting, Cox Radio, 5 Star Radio, the Granting Dreams Foundation, Indieheaven.com, and currently with the CHRSN (Christian Hit Radio Satellite Network).
Walzer is an experienced presenter at regional, national and international conferences. Walzer has presented papers and participated in panels at the Broadcasting Education Association, Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association, Art of Record Production and CIA Summit.
Walzer plans on releasing a new album of ambient world music within the next few months and is currently pursuing an MFA in Motion Pictures and Television from Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
