Dylan Goldbach, Percussion
Meet Dylan
Dylan Goldbach (percussion), 17, from Simpsonville, South Carolina, is currently a high school senior at the Greenville Fine Arts Center, studying privately with Wesley Strasser. Before the age of two, Dylan was already experimenting with sound, using straws as drumsticks and turning everyday objects into percussion instruments. Raised in a musical family, his parents recognized this early passion and enrolled him in formal drum lessons at age seven.
His earliest performance experiences came through playing the drum set at church, where he began learning not only musical skills but also the importance of using his gifts in service. These foundations later expanded to include performances with a wide range of ensembles.
Dylan has been an active member of both the Carolina Youth Symphony (CYS) and the Greenville County Youth Orchestra (GCYO). As Principal Percussionist with GCYO, he had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. in 2025. Dylan has also earned leadership roles at the Fine Arts Center in Greenville, South Carolina, where he serves as a teaching assistant for the freshman and sophomore percussion classes and performs with the senior percussion ensemble, featured annually at the Peace Center as part of the Fine Arts Center’s artistic celebration.
Dylan’s dedication has been recognized through consistent success in competitive and audition-based ensembles. He has served as Principal Percussionist in multiple regional ensembles and has been selected twice for the South Carolina All-State ensemble. He has also earned awards in the Cleveland Institute of Music Modern Snare Drum Competition, the GCYO Concerto Competition, and the CYS Concerto Competition. Most recently, Dylan has been selected as a member of the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) for this coming summer tour of 2026.
In addition to his musical achievements, Dylan excels academically, ranking in the top three of his class. Outside of music and academics, he enjoys lifting weights, solving Rubik’s cubes, and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Receiving the Award will support Dylan by covering his travel and lodging fees for his upcoming college auditions. The funds will also allow him to purchase many of the percussion instruments and mallets needed to support his journey through college and into the professional field.
