About SL Van Dam

I began piano instruction at age 5 with my oldest sister, continuing with a private teacher at 9, and also  began snare drum lessons in  Oneida, NY public schools.  Because of my piano skills, being able to read the bass clef,  I was moved to timpani in Jr. high. This has been my instrument of choice since then. I received a Bachelor of Music Performance degree in percussion in 1976 from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music , WInchester, VA ( now called Shenandoah University).  Following college I moved to Colorado and became the Principal Percussionist with the Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra ( 1978-82) . My family ( husband and 2 sons) moved to the Denver metro area in 1993. In 1994 I joined the Littleton Symphony as Timpanist/Principal , and was there for 12 years. I joined the Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra in 1995 as a section percussionist and later as timpanist.  Currently I am a member of the Stratus Chamber Orchestra in Denver as a Section Percussionist/ Alternate Timpanist.  I have also played with  the Jefferson Symphony, Evergreen Chamber Orchestra and Lakewood Symphony, the One World Singers, along with jobs in various churches and timpanist at the American Guild of Organists convention twice, and 2 summers at the Colorado Renaissance Festival as "The King's Drummer".  I have taught private lessons previously in Colorado Springs, at my home, and in Evergreen.