MM, The Juilliard School

Upon graduation from the Juilliard School in 1997, percussionist Tom Kolor became one of New York's most in demand chamber musicians. Engagements with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Continuum, Da Capo Chamber Players, Ensemble 21, the Group for Contemporary Music, Manhattan Sinfonietta, New York New Music Ensemble, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Newband, Speculum Musicae, and Sospeso led to collaborations with such composers and conductors as Louis Andriessen, Milton Babbitt, Pierre Boulez, Elliott Carter, George Crumb, James Dillon, Mario Davidovsky, Tan Dun, John Eaton, David Felder, Brian Ferneyhough, Philippe Hurel, Oliver Knussen, Robert Kraft, Tania Leon, Alvin Lucier, Steven Mackey, Tristan Murial, Wayne Peterson, George Perle, Steve Reich, Christopher Rouse, Frederic Rzewski, Ralph Shapey, Essa Pekka Salonen, James Tenney, Chinary Ung, Charles Wuorinen, Julia Wolfe, Christian Wolff, Iannis Xenakis, and John Zorn. 

Since 1995, he has been a member of Talujon Percussion, presenting hundreds of concerts throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Talujon has given countless world premieres and has made a significant contribution to the percussion quartet repertoire.

Currently, Kolor is an Associate Professor of Music at the University at Buffalo SUNY, where he directs the UB Percussion Ensemble, UB Contemporary Ensemble, oversees the Percussion Department and performs regularly with the faculty ensemble, Slee Sinfonietta. His first solo CD, American Masterpieces for Solo Percussion which features works by Babbitt and Cage was released by Albany Recordings. Recently released is American Masterpieces for Solo Percussion Volume II, which includes works by Wuorinen, Shapey, Wolff, and Feldman. In addition, he appears on over fifty commercial recordings for labels such as Albany, Bridge, Capstone, CRI, Deutsche Grammophone, Innova, Koch, Naxos, New World, North/South Consonance, Tzadik, and Wergo.