Gerald Carlyss

Gerald Carlyss was principal timpanist of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1967 – 1988. During his tenure with the orchestra he was also Chairman of the Percussion Department at the Curtis Institute of Music. Prior to Philadelphia, he was principal timpanist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra from 1965 – 1967. He officially joined the Indiana University School of Music percussion faculty in 1988.

Mr. Carlyss is a 1965 graduate of the Juilliard School of Music where he studied with Saul Goodman and Morris Goldenberg while earning a M.S and B.M degree. While a student in New York, he freelanced and played percussion with the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the New York City Opera and New York City Ballet Orchestras plus numerous other musical organizations. Since 1989, he has substituted on timpani with the Boston Symphony, New York Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony and the Indianapolis Symphony.

Many of Mr. Carlyss’s students have gone on to very successful careers in symphony orchestras, major military bands, various educational institutions and freelancing in the United States, Europe and Australia.