Wesley Sumpter is one of the most in-demand percussionists in the United States. He has performed with some of the world’s leading orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco, National, and Atlanta Symphonies, Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra, the Cabrillo Festival, Lakes Area Music Festival and the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester, UK. He has played under renown conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Esa Pekka Salonen, Zubin Mehta and many more. During his time with the LA Phil, he has shared the stage with some of the biggest stars in music like: Christina Aguilera, H.E.R., Katy Perry, Herbie Hancock, Barry Manilow, Wynton Marsalis, John Williams, and Snarky Puppy.

As a recording musician, he can be heard on a number of the LA Phil’s recently released recordings including their 2021 Grammy-Award winning Charles Ives Symphonies, the BBC Phil’s Pierre Sancan: A Musical Tribute, and the motion picture soundtracks of West Side Story (2021) and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023).

As contemporary and chamber musician, Wesley has worked regularly with the LA Phil New Music Group playing a number of commissions and staples in the repertoire. He is also one of the founding members of the trio, Lineage Percussion.

Wesley is also one of two drummers and percussionists for Misnomer, a 9-piece, horn-centric band based out of Atlanta, GA. He can be heard on all of their studio recorded EP’s and albums. Wesley has also played with R&B superstar, Macy Gray, during a two-night performance at City Winery, Atlanta in 2016.

Wesley received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and started his master’s at the University of Southern California before beginning the inaugural Resident Fellows program with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. His teachers include Timothy Adams jr., Kimberly Toscano, James Babor, Joseph Pereira and Matthew Howard.