User:Rlemusmail/Brian Choper

Brian Choper
Brian Choper is an acclaimed drummer/percussionist, band manager, and author currently living in College Park Maryland. With over 30 years experience playing both nationally and internationally, Brian has been featured on 9 professional CD’s, authored a book on music management, and started his own entertaiment management company. Brian manages and plays in five bands featuring a diverse combination of genres including Klezmer, Israeli, Jazz, Rock and Roll and Funk. His groups are The Choper Jazz Project, The Jazz Connection, The Nexus Rock Band, The Kol Haruach Orchestra, and The New Klezmer Quintet.

In 2007, Brian decided to take the Klezmer concept to concert halls, as these venues were inquiring with him. In order to create a band with a name and a sound that would be appreciated by people of all ethnic backgrounds, he created a sister band his original Kol Haruach Klezmer Orchestra and called it The New Klezmer Quintet. Today this group is extremely successful as a concert specific Klezmer band easily selling out major concert venues.

During his earlier years, Brian was already creating innovations in the music world. Brian was the first drummer to play with the Capital Klezmers; one of the top three Folk bands in the country during the eighties. In 1992, Brian was selected to participate in the International Music Festival in Safed, Israel as part of the Machaya Klezmer Band. Brian produced the group's second CD entitled "What A Machaya", and is also featured on it. This CD became the number two selling Folk album for 1997 (on the folk charts) and was rated as such in the prestigious Moment Magazine (August, 1997). As a result of Brian's public relations efforts and recognition with record distributors, the Machaya Klezmer Band soon became one of the top billing Folk bands in the country.

In 1983, Brian won first prize at the Vienna International Music Festival for classical timpani. He studied with notable teachers such as George Huttlin, Marchall Maley and Buddy Rich.

Discography
1993- Machaya Klezmer Band; Machaya Klezmer Band

1996-What a Machaya; Machaya Klezmer Band

2002-Tap Your Feet to a Jewish Beat; Sally Heckelman

2004-An Evening For You; The Jazz Connection

2004-In the Beginning...Bereshit; The New Klezmer Quintet

2005-Kol Haruach-Live in Concert; Klezmer and Jazz-Together at Last; The Kol Haruach Klezmer Band

2008-"Unexpected Joy"-The New Klezmer Quintet-Live in Concert w/ Ramon Tasat; The New Klezmer Quintet