Tobias Ralph was born and raised in New York City.  A child prodigy, Tobias began playing the drums at the age of 4 years.  His talents were quickly recognized when he became the winner of the first Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship award while still attending La Guardia High School for music and the performing arts.  He also attended Berklee College of Music, where he was the first recipient of the Yamaha Young Performing Artist recognition award.  His first public performance was at the tender age of 12 years old, while attending Walden School in NYC, supporting none other than Chaka Khan under the musical direction of Yochanan Sebastian Winston for a Walden School Benefit concert.

He has developed his own creative, innovative style as he has combined the influences of many different types of music.  An exceptionally consummate player, his versatility is evident as he can play everything from jazz to pop to speed metal.  He is a very "in-demand" drummer, constantly gigging worldwide in all of the genres he plays.

Tobias has been privileged to perform in the US, Europe, Japan and more with a wide variety of artists.

2011: The Crimson ProjeKCt with Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Markus Reuter and Julie Slick.

Broadway/off-Broadway Shows:
Tobias is currently a substitute drummer for the Broadway show “Rock of Ages” under drummer Jon Weber.  Tobias was also privileged to be a member of the award winning Broadway musical “Movin’ Out” under the charge of drummer Chuck Bürgi in 2004 - 2005.  He has also performed in the touring version of “Movin’ Out”.

Festivals:
October 2011 – Montreal Drum Festival - Montreal, Canada - featured drum set artist
November 2009 - PASIC in Indianapolis, Indiana - featured drum set artist
November 2002 - Montreal Drum Fest - Montreal, Canada - featured drum set artist
July 2005 – Sticks

Teaching/Clinics/Master Classes:
He is a faculty member at the Collective in NYC and teaches there when he is not out on the road touring.  He continues to give clinics demonstrating various techniques and genres of music (including Drum‘n’Bass, Funk, R&B, etc) for Paiste Cymbals, the Collective in NYC and others.  He has also taught several master classes at the Collective.  He has taught rock drumming at the National Guitar Workshop since 2004 at their campuses in New Milford, CT and McLean, Virginia.

Dance composition/performance:
Throughout his career, Tobias has also been very involved in the dance world. He accompanied dance classes at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts for six years.  He has composed several dance scores for Nicholas Leichter, Ann Reinking (with Phillip Hamilton), Alisa Rasera and Aleta Hayes, which have been performed nationally.  “Ritmo y Ruido” (Rhythm and Noise), a piece he composed with Phillip Hamilton, was performed nationally by Ballet Hispanico in 1998 and 1999, and received glowing reviews in the New York Times. It has also been performed at The Joyce Theater in October 2008 and December 1998.  It continues to be a part of Ballet Hispanico’s repertory.

In December 2000, he was a featured musician in a live percussion/dance piece entitled “To Lie Tenderly” by dancer/choreographer David Dorfman that was performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.    He was also a feature musician in another live percussion/dance piece by David Dorfman called “Gone Right Back” that was performed at The Joyce Theater in October 1998.

Endorsements:
Cymbals: Paiste - Drums: Sonor - Pedals: Drum Workshop - Sticks: Pro-Mark - Drumheads: Evans - Kickport - E-Pads!