Vince Oliver
http://vinceoliver.com
Saratoga HS, Bluecoats Drum & Bugle CorpsDirector, Arranger/Composer
Vince Oliver began his musical journey at the age of nine, playing the saxophone and piano. While in high school, Vince was introduced to percussion and immediately fell in love. He participated in drum corps — Santa Clara Vanguard, and Concord Blue Devils — and went on to major in Percussion Performance and Music Composition at University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. One week after graduating from USC, Vince moved to Florida to join and train with the cast of the Broadway show, Blast!. He toured with the company for two years throughout the U.S., Canada, and Japan, as a featured marimba soloist.
He left the full-time touring life in 2003 and became the Percussion Director at James Logan High School, a position he held for ten years. Within this tenure, Mr. Oliver contributed to 7 Western Marching Band Championships, and several WGI finalist and medal positions, and with his consultation the JLHS Wind Ensembles performed at The Midwest Convention, Carnegie Hall, The Walt Disney Hall, WASBE, and the Edinburgh Music Festival. During his summer months, Vince was able to tour Japan as a featured percussionist in several productions MEG/KTI: Blast 2005, Blast II MIX 2006, Blast (Broadway Version) 2007, Blast II MIX 2008, Blast (Tour Version) 2009.
As a composer/arranger, Mr. Oliver has had the privilege of writing for various ensembles throughout the world. His wind ensemble and orchestra compositions have been performed at The Walt Disney Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Palau de Música in Barcelona, WASBE, and his parade arrangement of 2012 Overture for Saratoga High School was featured in the 2012 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Press, a new piece commissioned for the Saratoga String Orchestra, for strings and electronics, will be premiered at the 2014 Midwest Clinic.
Vince Oliver is the electronics composer/designer for Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, and does electronic consulting and designing for several pageantry ensembles across the U.S.. He lives in Los Gatos, California. He is the percussion director and composer-in-residence at Saratoga High School, endorsed by Innovative Percussion, and is a proud member of ASCAP.