TMA149 Members

Bryan’s musical development began singing in the Toronto’s Children’s Chorus and playing violin in the Mississauga Youth Orchestra – only to discover his passion for orchestral music while drumming in high school. His broad exposure to music has remained a point of inspiration and interest, familiarizing diverse audiences with melodic percussion and ways that these timbres can be used across different musical genres.

Bryan holds a MMus in Percussion Performance from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University (’14) and a BMus with Honours from Wilfrid Laurier University (’12). During this time, he received Third Prize in the percussion category at the 2012 OSM Standard Life Competition, He also won 1st prize at the Wilfrid Laurier Concerto Competition (2011) and Mississauga Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition (2013).

Bryan has returned to his Ontario roots after returning from the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra as principal percussionist from 2014-2017. He was awarded the grand prize at the Saskatoon Kinsmen Competition, top prize in percussion at the Saskatchewan Music Festival, and the Sister Boyle Gold Award for most outstanding competitor at the Grand Awards during that time. Representing Saskatchewan at the National Music Festival in Edmonton brought him another first prize win in his category. Before moving back to Ontario, he performed Vincent Ho’s “Shaman” Percussion Concerto as a soloist with the SSO.

Currently living in Toronto, Allen continues to perform with orchestras such as the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Brott Music Festival, Niagara, Oakville and Peterborough Symphony as well as other ensembles throughout the GTA.
In 2019, Bryan embarked on a musical and geographical adventure with his partner, performing as a duo on a luxury cruise-line touring New Zealand, Australia, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. This was cut short due to the pandemic, and the two were stuck at sea for 82 days, eventually sailing out of Manila, Philippines. Bryan now runs a successful dog-walking business in Toronto’s east end, while continuing to perform as much as possible for virtual and live audiences.