About

Percussionist and drummer Riley Palmer is based in New York City, where he performs and teaches around the city and surrounding areas. Adept in a wide variety of musical styles, Riley can be found performing in contemporary music groups, Broadway pits, orchestras, and choirs, as well as various bands. In New York, Riley has played with The Orchestra of the League of Composers, Talujon Percussion, InfraSound New Music, Noise Catalogue, Zaffre Duo and Stand Clear in venues such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Merkin Hall, Lincoln Center, and the DiMenna Center. Active in the contemporary music scene, he has worked with composers including Eve Beglarian, Michael Gordon, Nicole Lizeé, Steve Reich, Joan Tower, and Julia Wolfe.

A regular collaborator with dance, Riley has served as an accompanist with many dance schools including Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, Ballet Hispanico, and Alvin Ailey, and has been a featured musician for performances at New York City Center and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Riley is also an active educator - click the “Teaching” page to learn more.

Riley completed his musical studies at the Eastman School of Music, University of Michigan, and Mannes School of Music in NYC. Previous teachers include Michael Burritt, Joseph Gramley, and Maya Gunji for percussion, as well as hand drumming with Glen Velez and drum set with Kendrick Scott.