Mill Valley Cultural Arts Umbrella

Percussionist and educator Daveed Korup sparks the imagination with his evocative synthesis of North African and Turko-Persian traditions interwoven with contemporary Western percussion styles. He is the author of “Tao Te Drum, Volumes 1 & 2: Eastern Drumming for Western Drummers” and “Drumming by the Numbers.”  His artistic vision is centered on the belief that “the world is a giant drum just waiting to be played. so play it!” Since 1983, Daveed has been on an ever-evolving rhythm journey.  Through school programs, residency projects, summer drum camps, festivals and workshops, he shares his knowledge of world percussion in the guise of DrumFest!, a hands-on, multicultural drumming experience for peopleof all ages. Some hands-on, multi-cultural lesson plans promote strong connections between the drum (the universal storyteller) and core subjects, such as reading, writing, math and science; Korup is a true rhythm evangelist. 

The search for new challenges has led him to composing and performing for contemporary dance, ballet and bellydance companies.  He has collaborated with a diverse collection of ensembles, including Seeds of Time, a percussion duo, Turku, an Eurasian folk ensemble, the Moving Poets Theater of Dance, and Without Borders, a new chamber ensemble for the 21st century.

In early 2006, Daveed released his first DVD project, “Whirlwinds: The Tao Te Drums Sessions,” a dual-disc set with a music CD. Here, Daveed brings together an extraordinary cast of performers to create a unique fusion of dance and music — a rhythmical odyssey within the revolving sphere of improvisational percussion and dance conversation.

As a composer, Daveed brings a unique perspective in creating new works for contemporary dance. An integral member of the Moving Poets Theater of Dance in his fifth season, he has written original compositions for numerous world premiere productions, including “De Profundis” (based on the court proceedings and prison writings of Oscar Wilde) and “MacBeth.” Daveed teamed up with Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame member Tom Constanten, in creating new scores for several of the Poets’ recent works. In the fall of 2001, Daveed traveled to Samarkand, Uzbekistan as lead percussionist for Turku, representing the United States at the third annual Sharq Taronalari Music Festival, sponsored by UNESCO and the Uzbekistan government. 

Daveed received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Northern Illinois University in August 1981.