Colin Ray has been surrounded by music his entire life – singing in choirs, musicals, taking guitar and even violin lessons in the early years. His journey in drumming began over twenty years ago when he took his first private drum lesson at the age of ten. Since then, he has studied marching and orchestral percussion, as well as a plethora of popular styles including but not limited to Americana, Blues, Bluegrass, Country, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Funk, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Latin, Metal, Pop, Punk, R&B, and Rock. He earned his Bachelors’ degree in Music from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he studied extensively with composer and percussion guru Rick Dior. He has taught over one hundred students, both kids and adults, consistently for the last six years.
As a performer, Colin has maintained steady work as a freelance musician in the Charlotte and Piedmont area for over a decade. Most of his work includes Broadway musicals at theaters such as The Booth Playhouse, Central Piedmont Community College, Davidson College, The Knight Theatre, plus live performances, events, weddings, and studio sessions at venues and community theaters throughout the region. He is also an active member of multiple local bands that perform a wide range of original material and cover songs. As an educator, he believes in building a solid musical foundation by developing coordination, ear training, hand technique, reading skills, listening to and studying the greats while exploring various genres to cultivate well-rounded musicians.