Poh Soon Teng is a percussionist/drummer in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has performed in various ensembles around the world from featured soloist playing a concerto with the Ohlone Wind Orchestra to sideman with Afro Brazillian artist; Rahan Boxley. Teng's journey has been a long and unpredictable one. Starting out playing percussion in his highschool band, his goal was to become a concert percussionist playing orchestras and wind ensembles. In 2006, Teng attended Contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA where he studied with Wayne Organ. There he nurtured his skills as a percussionist freelancing for multiple orchestras and musical theater. He was also a regular member of the Kensington Symphony and the UC Berkeley Summer Symphony at the time all while doing voice as a second instrument singing in jazz vocal quintets and chamber choirs. He even attended multiple Jazz Festivals as a vocalist. Teng was also playing with award winning indie musician Ben Ross at the time.

In 2008, Teng transferred to California State University East Bay (CSUEB) where he was awarded the Anne & Gordon Getty scholarship to study with Artie Storch. There he played in almost every school ensemble available from Wind Ensemble to Orchestra to the East Bay Singers and the Jazz Workshop. He was also playing regularly with the Silicon Valley Symphony while still freelancing for multiple ensembles from regional orchestras to youth orchestras to musical theater. He was also appointed the position of section leader of the CSUEB Wind Orchestra Percussion section. Teng was also the percussion coordinator at CSUEB. Teng has played as featured soloist with the Ohlone Wind Orchestra playing Robert Jager's Concerto for Solo Percussionist and Band, recorded drumset and percussion for multiple film scores including the award winning movie, All About Dad. He has also been blessed with opportunities to play sideman with some of the most amazing musicians and people.

In the middle of his undergrad career, Teng also debuted as a vibraphone soloist and decided to make that his new goal. Teng received the CSUEB Music Scholarship for the remaining of his years at CSU East Bay, 2009 & 2010 and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Music Performance in Percussion in Spring 2011.

During his senior year however, as fate would have it, Teng stumbled upon a session in San Francisco and saw a local drummer by the name of Jeff Marrs play. It was then that he decided to make the switch and pursue drumset as his main instrument. Not long after that, he found himself studying with Mr. Marrs along with other local drummers in the area.

Currently, Teng teaches private lessons in Fremont. He is also known for his work teaching classes, conducting sectionals and rehearsals and such for middle schools, high schools and the La Honda Music Camp. Teng has also had the priveldge to work with Calvin Keys, Sitka Sun, Kevan Smedt, Louise Noble, Shawn Williams to name a few and freelances regularly around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Teng proudly endorses : 

Seth Dolcourt Custom Drums