Rate My Professor Justin DeHart

Justin DeHart is a Professor of Music at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from California State University, Sacramento, a Master of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of California, San Diego. DeHart joined the University of Canterbury in 2017 and serves as head of the percussion programme. His performing career spans classical, contemporary, world, and popular music traditions, with credits including performances with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, International Contemporary Ensemble, and red fish blue fish. He was a member of the Los Angeles Percussion Quartet from 2009 to 2022 and has collaborated with artists such as Stewart Copeland and Cheap Trick. DeHart is a GRAMMY-nominated percussionist and a Yamaha Performing Artist who endorses Black Swamp Percussion, REMO, Sabian, and Innovative Percussion.

DeHart maintains an active schedule as a soloist, chamber musician, and ensemble director, including directing the Balinese Gamelan Ensemble at the University of Canterbury. His recordings appear on labels including Innova, HatHut, Mode, Sub Pop, and Rattle Records. Notable releases include his debut album Strange Paths, The Complete Early Percussion Works of Karlheinz Stockhausen on Mode Records, which received the German Critics’ Prize, and the solo projects Landfall: NZ Percussion Vol. 1 and Towards Midnight: NZ Percussion Vol. 2, both of which were finalists for Best Classical Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards. He has received additional recognition including the Best Classical Artist award at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards. DeHart’s teaching and performance work emphasize versatility across genres and the development of percussion studies in New Zealand.