Kevin Man
Associate Principal Percussion
Kevin Man joined the Opera Australia Orchestra in 2016 as Associate Principal Percussion.
Kevin began his musical studies on piano, attaining his AMusA under Stephanie McCallum. He later moved to percussion and completed a Bachelor of Music (Honours) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney, studying with Sydney Symphony Orchestra timpanist Richard Miller.
He was an instrumental finalist in the ABC Young Performer Awards, performing with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and was awarded the 2MBS Young Performer of the Year in 1998.
In 1999, Kevin was appointed Rank and File Percussion with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Alongside his performing and touring commitments, he was actively involved in education at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University, where he served as a percussion teacher from 2001 to 2003 and as Head of Percussion in 2003.
From 2002 to 2016, Kevin was a member of Taikoz, specialising in traditional and contemporary Japanese instrumental music. During this time, he toured extensively throughout Australia and internationally, performing taiko, shinobue, and shakuhachi.
As a guest musician, Kevin has performed with ensembles including the Sydney, Melbourne, and Queensland Symphony Orchestras; the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra; the Australian Chamber Orchestra; the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra; Synergy Percussion; Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa; Pinchgut Opera; and the Seymour Group. He was also a founding member of the percussion ensemble Sprung Percussion, and Karak Percussion duo.
Kevin has appeared as a concerto soloist with the West Australian, Sydney, Melbourne, and Queensland Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Brisbane Sinfonia and the Dresden Chamber Orchestra.
He remains actively involved in music education as Coordinator of Percussion Studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney.
Fun fact: Kevin likes to bake Opening night treats, earning him the nickname Kevin Bakin’