Isaac's Drum Lessons

Isaac Fernández Hernández was appointed as section percussionist of the Southwest Florida Symphony in October 2014. He has an extensive freelancing career and performs regularly with professional orchestras in the state of Florida, such as the Naples Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Opera, Orlando Philharmonic, The Florida Orchestra and Palm Beach Opera. As a former student of Ted Atkatz, he obtained his Performance Diploma at Lynn Conservatory. Isaac received his Master of Music degree from Boston University under the supervision of timpanist Tim Genis and completed his undergraduate studies at Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Isaac is also an alumnus from the Interlochen Arts Academy where he originated his percussion studies after moving away from his home country, Costa Rica, at the age of 16. In the past years, he has performed under various renowned conductors, such as Lorin Maazel, Valery Gergiev, Krystof Penderecki, Donald Runnicles and Giancarlo Guerrero. He has attended major festivals all over the world ranging from the Pacific Music Festival in Japan (2 consecutive years) to Lyrique-en-Mer in France and the Penderecki Musik Akademie in Germany and Poland. Isaac has shared the stage with the best musicians in the world—particularly from the Chicago Symphony, Berlin Philhamornic and Vienna Philharmonic. In September 2015, Isaac made his Carnegie Hall debut as principal timpanist of the International Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. Isaac is now part of the Zildjian Avedis family as a sponsored artist.

I love to see the smile in people's faces when they are playing music. Most importantly to see them succeed!