Brett Dietz

Louisiana State University

Brett William Dietz is the Carolyn Mattax Professor of Percussion and Director of Percussion Studies at Louisiana State University. He is the music director of Hamiruge – The LSU Percussion group. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Percussion and the Master of Music in Composition at the Duquesne University. He earned his Doctor of Music in Percussion at Northwestern University. He has studies percussion with Jack DiIanni, Andrew Reamer, Stanley Leonard, and Michael Burritt while his principal composition teachers include Joseph Willcox Jenkins, David Stock, and Jay Alan Yim.

Dietz is in demand as a clinician and soloist throughout the United States and has performed at numerous Percussive Art Society International Conventions. He is a founding member of the Tempus Fugit Percussion Ensemble (1994-2004) and currently performs as a duo partner with Brazilian percussion artist, Gustavo Miranda.

Dietz’s music has been performed throughout the United States, Europe, East Asia, and Australia by numerous ensembles including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Winston-Salem Symphony, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Winds, Eastman Wind Ensemble, National Wind Ensemble, Arizona Music Fest, and the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble. His composition, Pandora’s Box received its New York premiere at Carnegie Hall by the National Wind Ensemble under the direction of H. Robert Reynolds. His chamber opera, Headcase: Opera Introspective was called “haunting and powerful – a remarkably sophisticated score that blends words, music, and visual displays to touch the heart and mind” by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. The composition relieves the story of the stroke that Dietz suffered at the age of 29 in 2022. His music is published by Keiser Classical, C Alan Publications, Keyboard Percussion Publications, and Tapspace Publications.

Hamiruge – The LSU Percussion Group has released numerous recordings including In Motion: The Percussion Music of David Stock, Toxic Rainbows (featuring world premiere recordings by composers Peter Klatzow, Daniel Lentz, Randall Woolf, David Stock and Luduino Pitombeira), and Retrospections: Percussion Music by Stanley Leonard and Brett William Dietz. The ensemble had its New York debut at Carnegie Hall in 2012.

Dietz is an artist/educational clinician with Malletech, Zildjian Company, and the Pearl Corporation as a Malletstation endorser.