Zubin Hathi, Principal Timpani

A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Zubin Hathi joined the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra as principal timpanist at the start of the 2022-23 season. Prior to this appointment, he held the same position for one season with the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. Zubin has participated in a number of festivals, including as principal timpanist with the National Repertory Orchestra and as fellowship recipient in the Pacific Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, and New York String Orchestra Seminar. He has also attended the Aspen Music Festival and School, and has performed in the St. Barts Music Festival and ChamberFest Cleveland. Additionally, Zubin has performed with the orchestras of Cleveland, San Francisco, Detroit, Buffalo, Rochester, Columbus, and India, among others. 

Zubin holds a bachelor’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with Don Liuzzi, Robert van Sice, and Eric Millstein. During his time at Curtis, he consistently made the Dean’s List in recognition of academic excellence. He completed his master’s degree and additional post-graduate studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music under the tutelage of Marc Damoulakis and Paul Yancich. He also worked with Luke Rinderknecht at Cleveland State University.

Zubin is a proud endorser of Evans Drumheads and Freer Percussion Products. He has recorded with The Cleveland Orchestra, and can also be heard on recordings distributed by the Naxos and Cedille labels.