Kristopher Keeton
Area coordinator
Assistant professor
Percussion
Phone: (804) 828-2926
E-mail: kskeeton@vcu.edu
Office: Singleton Center, Room B-2
Kristopher Keeton is an assistant professor of percussion at VCU. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts at the Northwestern University School of Music and is active in the Percussive Arts Society, serving on the Keyboard Committee and as the Central Virginia Representative for the Virginia/D.C. Chapter. He received a master’s degree in percussion performance and literature from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in percussion performance from Western Kentucky University.
Prior to his appointment at VCU, Keeton served on the faculties of Trinity International University and the Eastern Music Festival. He is a former member of the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Owensboro Symphony Orchestra and Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. Keeton’s performing credits also include the Chicago Symphony Orchestra MusicNOW Ensemble, Virginia Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and Nashville Chamber Orchestra. He performed several concerts across Europe in January 2008 with the professional Swedish percussion ensemble Global Percussion Network. Keeton made his Carnegie Hall debut in March 2008, performing as featured soloist with the VCU Wind Ensemble.
Keeton has been a featured artist/clinician in multiple settings, including universities, music festivals, state music education conferences and “days of percussion.” As both keyboard specialist and drummer with the Mr. Jack Daniel’s Original Silver Cornet Band, he performed at various venues and festivals across the country. Keeton has appeared as a performer and soloist at multiple Percussive Arts Society international conventions. As a recording artist, he can be heard playing drum set on the Hillvue Heights and Stable Music recording labels and as xylophone soloist on the Northwestern University Percussion Ensemble’s CD release with Resonator Records.
Keeton has studied with acclaimed percussionists Michael Burritt and Christopher Norton, James Ross of the Chicago Symphony and famed drum set artists Chester Thompson and Paul Wertico. Keeton is a Yamaha Performing Artist and an artist/clinician for Innovative Percussion.
