John Arrucci is an acclaimed master artist. He has composed, performed and instructed for over 30 years. He has studied on three continents, written for all mediums, and received numerous honors. His intimate knowledge of Classical, Jazz, North Indian, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian and other indigeneous traditions gives him–and his audiences–a singularly rich perspective on the creation and impact of music.

John’s Percussion work is featured on over seventy recordings, scores for feature films and television. His unusual versatility on such a wide variety of instruments and in so many musical settings keeps him in high demand.  He has performed and/or recorded with Michael Brecker, John Patittucci, Gil Goldstein, David Byrne, Livingston Taylor, Mariah Carey, Stefon Harris, The Brooklyn Philharmonic, Philip Glass Ensemble, Eddie Henderson, James Genus, Adam Rogers, Gary Versace and Oliver Lake on Drumset, Congas, Vibes, Shekere, Marimba, Berimbau, Udu, Timpani, Bongo, Tabla, Cuica and more.

Arrucci graduated with distinction from Eastman School of Music. The Smithsonian Institution awarded him a post-Doctoral level research fellowship to study Tabla in Benares, India with Pandit Sharda Sahai. This was followed by a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship to study music in Brazil, where according to the Tribune of Bahia he “influenced the explosion of Bahian music”. He also studied Shekere and Agbe with the renowned Chief James Hawthorne Bey and Conga and Afro-Cuban drumming with one its leading exponents, Frank Malabe.

Princeton University was Arrucci’s classroom home for over 20 years, where he educated, inspired and engaged thousands in the art of percussion and composition. He has lectured and conducted master classes at Eastman School of Music, Mannes College of Music, University of Bahia in Brazil, Manhattan School of Music, The National Theatre of Namibia and other prominent institutions.

His compositions have been performed around the world, and he has been commissioned by members of the New York Philharmonic, the Manhattan Marimba Quartet, Mannes College of Music and a notable list of other patrons.