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. Additionally during this time, Hayden participated in CCM’s musical theater program where he was the drumset 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 has also worked as a marching band tech for various local high schools during his summers off. 

After Graduation

Since 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 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, he has the amazing opportunity to perform as a pit orchestra musician for various shows under Cincinnati Landmark Productions, INNOVATheatre, Dayton Playhouse, TheatreLab Dayton, and many other local theatre companies. He has performed over two dozen different musicals and even premiered a new original musical at the 2021 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. 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 with his own big band (the THF Big Band) and in small group settings at various clubs, such as Nostalgia Wine Bar and Jazz Lounge, Cafe Vivace, Ghost Baby, Bromwell’s Härth Lounge, and Schwartz’s Point Jazz & Acoustic Club.



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