With over 18 years of performance experience and study, Tsoof Baras is a composer, percussionist, drummer, session musician, hand drummer and graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium. Trained in orchestral percussion, he has performed as a percussionist with the QLD Pops Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Ipswich Theatre Company, Musical Theatre actor Trevor Ashley and MD John Foreman.
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. He has travelled around the country as a percussionist with SoundStruck, performing 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 body percussion and drumming workshops as an individual and through Talkin’ the Drum 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 Afro-Cuban drumming styles with Gus Cereijo and played in Latin ensembles such as Salseros and Chukale.
Current projects include: Menaka Thomas (Original Music), RVHU, Shai Shriki, Beautiful Noise: The Life and the Music of Neil Diamond, Red Tie Entertainment’s LED Drum Show.
Tsoof now focusses his energy on developing the ensembles he is a part of, performing as a freelance and session percussionist and composing for percussion. See Music Store
On top of his performance work, Tsoof also heads the percussion department for the Franciscan Colleges Instrumental Program, teaching private students and directing 3 percussion ensembles.
