Rob Navratil is a versatile and well travelled Percussionist, crossing from Classical to African, Latin and Jazz fields. He is also an established Studio Engineer and Producer.
Rob was born and brought up in Sheffield, England where he began playing drums at a young age, being inspired by David Hartland from Grimethorpe Colliery Brass Band. He developed his skills in Bands and Ensembles of South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. This provided the bedrock for his musical learning which would support him during a very musical childhood. Travels across the UK and Europe followed as he gained huge experience for a young musician.
Rob began studying percussion at the age of 12 but it was under the guidance of Matthew Rushton, and then for many years, Steven R Kohut, that opportunities began to open up, performing with local Orchestras and in Musical Theatre. In the Rotherham Percussion Ensemble Rob began a collaboration with top percussionist Mike Parkin. Together they performed with Lecturer and Composer Pete Birkby at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Rob’s most rewarding period in his young musical career was with the award winning Derbyshire County Youth Wind Band which he joined as its youngest member in 1994. During the following 7 years they competed in many competitions around the UK, winning many of them, and resulting in the chance to perform in the Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall. The band was successful internationally too where they performed tours in Holland, Israel and Japan
After leaving college Rob spent 7 years with the South Yorkshire Police Band. He enjoyed success both on the concert stage and as Principle of the Corps of Drums, which lead the band to the Valletta Military Tattoo in Malta and the Lord Mayors parade in London in 2005. During this time he performed with some of Britain’s most prestigious bands including Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band and The Ransome Band competing in The All England Masters and Grand Shield, later touring Germany.
Rob went on to study at Leeds College of Music playing and recording with bands from around West Yorkshire including Claudio Kron and The Leeds Percussion Orchestra. In 2001 Rob began studying Djembe with Ianto Thornber and became a member of the dynamic and popular African Drumming group Carabali. The group included drummers Mark Taylor and Steve Rivers with whom he would go on to record for the BBC in a World Music Special in 2004.
After graduating in 2005 Rob founded Headroom Music to provide Sound Reinforcement and Studio Production facilities. Working with local bands and supporting young musicians led him, in the summers of 2005 and 2006 to record and produce two live albums for
The National Youth Reunion Choir. Rob’s first teaching assignment began working for the Sheffield Music Service.
In 2006 Rob moved to London and through Headroom Music, is currently producing Ozi Ozaa’s new studio album due for release in 2009. Continuing his collaboration with Mike Parkin, Rob has used Mike’s superb skills to great effect on the album. In that same year Rob met and began working with Yaw, facilitating and teaching in the London area. The work ranged from school workshops through to the corporate environment running team building events in the UK and Europe. At home in London Rob worked closely with The Royal College of Music’s Education department running drum workshops for
The Northampton Academy.
Rob now works as a freelance musician and producer. His time is shared between performing and teaching with Ozi Ozaa, and studio production for Headroom Music. His enthusiasm for his music and his high professional standards shine through everything he does giving him a deserved reputation as an artist much in demand throughout the UK and Europe. This is backed up by successful work for such names as Shell, Microsoft, NHS, British Airways, Glaxo Smith Kline, and British Energy.
