10/06/2026
đŚ Alumni Spotlight: Fred Harper đŚ
Fred Harper is a drummer, producer, facilitator and musical director whose work spans performance, education and community music. After attending the BRIT School in London, he graduated from Leeds Conservatoire with a First Class BA (Hons) in Music, studying drums with Dave Walsh and latin percussion with Jesse Bannisterâtwo teachers whose influence continues to shape his playing.
After graduating, Fred spent a year gigging on the Leeds scene before moving to London, where his early career included theatre tours in the Netherlands and work in show bands on cruise ships. He later travelled to Brazil for six months to study
Brazilian percussion, focusing on pandeiro and Afro-Brazilian folkloric drumming traditions.
As a performer he has appeared everywhere from the Royal Albert Hall and Ronnie Scottâs to Glastonbury, and has toured extensively across the UK and Europe with acts including folk/highlife/reggae group Me And My Friends and The Daft Punk Orchestra, including a 40-date residency at XOYO in London with the latter. He has also worked extensively in theatre and comedy, co-directing a sold-out 30-night run with hip-hop improviser Abandoman at the Edinburgh Fringe and later serving as musical director and house bandleader on Sky Oneâs Late Late Show with Deirdre OâKane.
Alongside his performing career, Fred has developed a strong commitment to community music. During the COVID-19 pandemic he collaborated with the charity SENSE to develop an innovative online workshop format for deaf and hearing- disabled participants, using vibrating body packs to enable remote musical interaction. He also works extensively with the organisation Finding Rhythms, leading music projects within prisons and across the criminal justice system helping participants write, record and release albums, many of which have won awards.
