About me

Austin Snavely is a young, upcoming, well-versed professional jazz and classical drummer from Douglassville, Pennsylvania.  He’s become known throughout Pennsylvania/Philadelphia and Up-State New York for his eclectic and outgoing style of drumming. He started his formal studies with international jazz artist and Sakae-endorsed drummer Larry Marshall. Around that same time, he studied orchestral and symphonic percussion under the esteemed educator, performer, conductor, and Percussive Arts Society Lifetime Achievement award winner, Dr. Willis M. Rapp. He later studied drum set under the guidance of Grammy Award-winning, world-renowned performer, educator, and author, John Riley, before heading to the Eastman School of Music where he now studies with Rich Thompson. During his middle school and high school years, Austin made many regional and national ensembles. This began with his PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association) county, district, and regional bands while also achieving the highest recognition by successfully auditioning and being selected as the sole drum set player for the 2022 PMEA All-State Jazz Band. During that same year, Austin made the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (directed by Maestro Louis Scaglione), Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra (directed by Justin Faulkner), and the Settlement Music School Helen K. Schwartz Advanced Study Jazz Ensemble (directed by Tony Miceli). He then went on a step further to play in the nationally recognized HPS Carnegie Hall Symphonic Band in 2022 and the NAfME All-Eastern Jazz Festival in 2023 under the direction of Bob Stewart. Austin has achieved regional and national level awards for his playing, including the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and outstanding performance on drums for the 43rd Annual Downbeat International Jazz Magazine’s SMA’s. Austin continues to pursue challenging opportunities, performances, and education that will help solidify himself as a sought-after professional drummer throughout his career in the performing arts.