Bradford Ralston is a dynamic young composer with a diverse background in percussion performance and music composition.  While earning a Bachelor of Music degree in music composition and theory from the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, he studied composition with renowned classical composers such as Dr. Michael Kurek and Dr. Stan Link.

His experience in percussion performance is marked by two national tours playing snare with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, and four years as an active member in the Vanderbilt Steel Drum Band under the direction of Mat Britain, in addition to numerous performances with the Blair Percussion Ensemble and various other ensembles at the Blair School of Music.  He has studied percussion and jazz drumset with distinguished drummers and percussionists such as Bill Wiggins, John R. Beck, Michael Holland, Tommy Giampietro, and Brian Tinkle, and has taught drums and percussion lessons at the W. O. Smith School of Music in Nashville, TN, as well as privately in Winston-Salem, NC...(click details for full Bio)

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

"Ants Marching," perhaps the most recognizable song by The Dave Matthews Band, is marked with a famous repetitive riff carried by the double seconds throughout most of the tune and somewhat bluesy melody.  This arrangement contains....

Difficulty: Easy/Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

Call Me Maybe is the fun, energetic tune being called “The Song of The Summer” that has taken the airwaves by storm!  The irresistibly catchy chorus (“Hey! I just met you… and this is crazy…”) will be immediately recognized by....

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

The classic tune from Disney’s The Lion King is now available for steel pans!  This fun arrangement grows and swells from the ceremonial beginning to the dramatic....

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

The first-act finale hit from Wicked, the Broadway musical about the witches from The Wizard of Oz, has a little bit of everything.  A few changes in tempo and mood throughout this arrangement, which effectively captures many of the....

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

Don’t Stop Believin’ is one of the biggest hits from the late 80’s… and it’s never gone out of fashion!  More recently, the Fox TV series....

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

A medley of Billie Jean, Thriller, Beat It, and Black or White by Michael Jackson, this arrangement is one-of-a-kind for steel pan ensembles, and will be a special piece on your....

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

Originally a showtune waltz, and then a jazz standard as arranged by Coltrane, My Favorite Things was transformed by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass in 1968 into an uptempo common-time hit.  In the style of the Tijuana Brass recording, this arrangement is an exciting....

Difficulty: Medium (great for college percussion ensembles)

This ethereal but energetic quartet is a musical portrait inspired by stars and lights seen in the darkness of night.  With a variety of moods, techniques, and ideas, it makes an excellent contest piece, as your performers will be....

Difficulty: Easy/Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

This tune is a recent radio hit, arranged for steel drums with a quasi-bossa / pop-rock beat.   It features a solo section (with an optional written melody for....

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

"Sundown Groove" was composed for the Vanderbilt Commodore Steel Band under the direction of Mat Britain in the Spring of 2008.  What begins as a chilled-out, snaky, but inevitably catchy groove transforms....

Difficulty: Medium (great for any skilled 4-mallet marimba soloist)

This expressive work for solo marimba with accompaniment allows the solo artist to demonstrate technique and musicality on the versatile instrument.  The music tells the story of wandering off into the unknown, determined and resolute but uncertain....

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

A Dave Matthews Band favorite, Two Step is upbeat and intriguing.  With a steadily-built-up introduction, an easily-recognizable melody, and a great groove of a chorus, this song is irresistible.  Just like Dave Matthews Band plays it....

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

This steel drum arrangement captures the natural original flow and groove of the original classic anthem recorded by Queen and David Bowie.  As it was written in an improved jam session, the steel drum....

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

A Dave Matthews Band favorite, Two Step is upbeat and intriguing.  With a steadily-built-up introduction, an easily-recognizable melody, and a great groove of a chorus, this song is irresistible.  Just like Dave Matthews Band plays it....