About

University of Cincinnati

During the five years he spent at UC, he had the pleasure of playing in both the Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Orchestra within the Jazz Department at CCM, where he had the opportunity to travel to Brazil and play alongside the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. During this time, Hayden also participated in CCM’s musical theater program where he was the drum set player for three spring productions: Seussical (2017), Jesus Christ Superstar (2018), and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (2019). He conducted his student teaching at Mason High School where he aided in instructing over six different concert ensembles and two different jazz bands. He also worked as a marching band tech for various local high schools during his summers off. 

Miami University

From 2024 to 2026, Hayden served as a Graduate Assistant while pursuing his Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance at Miami University. While attending MU, Hayden performed alongside the Miami University Symphony Orchestra and the Miami University Wind Ensemble. Additionally, Hayden developed and taught a full length Lecture Masterclass, covering musical theater percussion. 

After Graduation

After graduating, Hayden earned an adjunct percussion professor position at Stivers School for the Arts, a Dayton magnet school focused on visual and performing arts. Hayden also assists at the University of Cincinnati, serving as a percussion instructor for the Bearcat Marching Band, jazz ensembles, wind ensembles, and percussion ensembles. Additionally, Hayden teaches at Oak Hills High School, instructing their Indoor Drumline front ensemble, Marching Band front ensemble, jazz bands, and orchestra. 

Hayden also provides local middle and high school students private percussion lessons. These private students routinely receive superior ratings at OMEA solo and ensemble contests, make it into their high school’s top bands, and generally achieve excellence in all their musical endeavors.

When he is not teaching, Hayden is a key member of many local orchestras, including the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Lima Symphony Orchestra, Mason Symphony Orchestra, Springboro Wind Symphony, Taneycomo Festival Orchestra, and Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra.

He has also had the amazing opportunity to perform as a pit orchestra musician for various shows under Cincinnati Landmark Productions, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Carnegie, Merit Theatre Company & Orchestra, Dayton Playhouse, TheatreLab Dayton, Northern Kentucky University, University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, and many other local theatre companies. Hayden has also traveled to Branson, MO to serve as a seasonal swing drummer at Silver Dollar City. 

He has performed over four dozen different musicals and has even premiered two original musicals at the 2021 and 2026 Cincinnati Fringe Festivals. Hayden hopes to further his experiences in musical theater, as this is his true passion and dream job.

Hayden plays frequently around the Cincinnati area at various clubs like Nostalgia Wine Bar and Jazz Lounge, Cafe Vivace, Ghost Baby, Bromwell’s Härth Lounge, and Schwartz’s Point Jazz & Acoustic Club with groups such as the Dayton Jazz Orchestra, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra Regional All Star Big Band, and Jazz Central Big Band.

In August 2026 Hayden received an educator and artist endorsement from Zildjian, Vic Firth, and Remo drumheads.

Hayden is professional, reliable, dedicated, a musician with top-notch skills and devotion, and an all around astounding drummer, percussionist, and educator.