With over 2 decades of performance experience and study, Tsoof Baras is a composer, percussionist, drummer, session musician, hand drummer and graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium.
He is a versatile across all styles and instruments, from orchestral percussion to drum set, from hand drums, to corporate shows. Trained in orchestral percussion, he has performed as a percussionist with the QLD Pops Orchestra and Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Stepping into the musical theatre scene, he has also performed in numerous musical productions with the Ipswich Theatre Company as well as taking on the percussion deputy roles for Australian productions of Cinderella, Mary Poppins the Musical and Hamilton the Musical.
Tsoof is a co-founder and predominant composer of SoundStruck, a Brisbane based percussion group dedicated to delivering high impact and entertaining percussion music with visual effects. The group has performed at numerous high profile sporting events, stage shows and corporate events. The group featured in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, providing entertainment for swimming events and content for table tennis events. Some other notable events and clients include the 2021 Sea World Carnivale Aqua Light Show, 2019 Brisbane City Christmas Parades, BAE Systems, Volkswagen, Isagenix and Intuit Inc.
Having studied West African drumming from a young age, he is also involved in the delivery of drumming workshops as an individual and through Talkin’ the Drum, InRhythm and Rhythm Culture. Along with over a decade of experience playing West African hand drums, Tsoof has spent time in Guinea studying with master drummer and griot Mohamed Bangoura.
He has also studied traditional drumming styles with Yshai Afterman, Gus Cereijo, Nasrine Rahmani and Marcio Bahia, and imbues these styles of playing into his sessional work.
Current projects include: Menaka Thomas (Original Music), Shai Shriki, Hamsa, Red Tie Entertainment’s LED Drum Show.
On top of his performance work, Tsoof is part of the sessional teaching staff at the QLD Conservatorium of Music. He also heads the percussion department for the Franciscan Colleges Instrumental Program, teaching numerous private students and directing multiple percussion ensembles.
Tsoof now focusses his energy on developing the ensembles he is a part of, performing as a freelance and session percussionist, promoting his book How to Get Good, and composing for percussion – See Music Store
