Vibraphonist Brad Stirtz has gained a reputation as an outstanding professional mallet percussionsist, both onstage and in the studio. Brad's music career has spanned the globe, with concerts in Uganda, Trinidad and throughout the U.S. He has performed or recorded with such jazz luminaries as Ed Thigpen, Patricia Barber, Jerry Goodman, Dan Haerle, Fareed Haque, Jay Clayton, Madeline Eastman, Peter Eldridge, Suzanne Pittson and John McLean. He toured with the Janice Borla Group, and is featured on her CDs Lunar Octave and Agents of Change.
A native of Minden, Nebraska, Brad earned his Master of Music degree in percussion performance at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. He recently received a second master's degree in Theology from Concordia University Chicago. As a jazz/percussion educator, he has previously served on the faculties of the American Conservatory, Roosevelt University, Benedictine University, North Illinois University and the Janice Borla Vocal Jazz Camp. Currently Brad is Director of Worship and Music at Peace Lutheran Church in Lombard, Illinois. He has been a member of the faculty at the Birch Creek Percussion Camp in Door County, Wisconsin for 30 years, where he teaches jazz improvisation and the techniques of playing world percussion instruments.
