PRINCIPAL
Since 2003 Christopher Deviney has been principal percussion of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Prior to assuming this title, he was section percussionist with the Houston Symphony. He has also previously performed and recorded with the New Orleans Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Atlanta Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, and The Philadelphia Orchestra.
In 2008 Mr. Deviney appeared as a co-soloist (along with principal timpani Don Liuzzi) with The Philadelphia Orchestra performing Bartok’s Concerto for Two Pianos and Percussion with Emanuel Ax. In 2017 Mr. Deviney premiered his Imaginary Day, Duo Concerto for Vibraphone and Marimba, with The Philadelphia Orchestra alongside marimbist She-e Wu.
Mr. Deviney was a faculty member at Rutgers University from 2004 to 2008, as well as the percussion coordinator at the Curtis Institute of Music from 2008 to 2009. Since 2010 he has taught the graduate percussion program at Temple University. In 2012, 2014, and 2016 he performed as principal percussion in the acclaimed PBS broadcast production All-Star Orchestra with conductor Gerard Schwarz.
Mr. Deviney is a graduate of Florida State University, where he studied under Gary Werdesheim, and Temple University, studying with Alan Abel. He was the recipient of the first Charles Owen Memorial fellowship at the Aspen Music Festival, as well as a Tanglewood Institute Fellow and National Repertory Orchestra invitee. He has given multiple master classes at the New World Symphony, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the National Youth Orchestra, and the National Repertory Orchestra, and he has been a featured guest lecturer at the University of Michigan.
Mr. Deviney is a proud endorser of Pearl/Adams percussion instruments, Evans drumheads, Innovative percussion sticks/mallets, and Sabian cymbals.
Photo by Jessica Griffin