Evan Long is a worldly, passionate musician, educated in nearly any musical style or tradition one may wish to learn. Growing up in Denver, Colorado, he began playing piano at age 6, but discovered his primary passion in the drums at age 9. His first ‘band’ was The Super-Mons, and they debuted at the 5th grade gala and ice cream social; they were awful. Studying jazz under Mark Foster, he earned his stripes in school big bands and combos, attending the likes of the Stanford Jazz Workshop and performing frequently at Dazzle Jazz and the Five Points Jazz Festival.  Throughout middle and high school, he also played with friends in rock, ska, punk, and metal bands, performing in the pit of Cabaret and contributing to conservatory showcases at Denver School of the Arts. In chamber music, he contributed percussion to the Denver Youth Artists Orchestra for six years. He continued through college, playing in jazz, rock, and indie bands, while he earned the moniker “The Professor” in the Orange County scene. He currently performs with the rock band Sunday Mourners, who recently opened a local tour for legendary punk band X, and backs indie artists including Suave Punk, LINNEA, and Tom Henry.  He is also a self-taught guitarist, bassist, and harmonica player.

From biographies to theory books to literal encyclopedias of rock, Evan always made it a point to study the music he loved: where it came from, who developed it and how, what makes it unique and impactful. He completed his bachelor’s at Chapman University in 2023, where he studied film, sociology, and ethnomusicology, presenting his Honors Capstone on documentary representations of American folk musicians. This past May, he completed a Master of Arts in Film & Media Studies from the same institution. He brings the same dedication to music and music education, from accruing a vast knowledge of popular and folk music forms, taking lessons for over a decade, and attending masterclasses with jazz legends like Dave King, Dave Liebman, and Charles McPherson. His mastery of rhythmic theory assures students an essential foundation in technique; like any social science, “thinking with” music is how we develop our own voice, knowledge, and critical skill. Intentionality, creativity, and open-mindedness are the highest values Evan brings to students; he inspires them to fall deeper in love with the drums and their role as the heartbeat of music, offers tools to broaden their sensibilities, and challenges them to expand their concept of their instrument to its limitless possibilities. Although his expertise is in rock and jazz music, he can teach classical, avant-garde, funk/R&B, pop, hip-hop, reggae, metal and other styles.