Ken Topham is a genre-bending composer and performer with over two decades of professional studio recording, live performance, and orchestration experience. Ken is a skilled multi-instrumentalist with an expertise in both pitched and unpitched percussion instruments. He has been playing drum set for over thirty years. 

Ken earned bachelor’s degrees in Music Composition and Music History & Literature at Keene State College, specializing in advanced, strict Renaissance Counterpoint, and analysis of 20th century compositional techniques, under the guidance of his long-time mentor and friend, Ted Mann. He earned his Master of Fine Arts degree (MFA) in Music Composition from Vermont College of Fine Arts under advisors John Mallia, Michael Early, and mentor Lisa Mezzacappa.

Ken’s original music synthesizes his interests and influences in traditional and extended techniques, heavy metal, eastern European folk music, rock and roll, experimental tape manipulation, jazz, and electro-acoustic sound design. He composes for traditional chamber ensembles and contemporary combos, and has performed his music with notable artists such as Carla Kihlstedt, Roger Zahab, Lisa Mezzacappa, Mike Early, Rob Frankenberry, Tessa Brinckman, Anna Webber, Yuhan Su, Lesley Mok, and Aurora Nealand. His compositions have been premiered and toured by ensembles such as The City Of Tomorrow, Anna’s Ghost, SonLingua, Playground Ensemble, and Prism Players in cities across the USA. Ken has presented multimedia recordings and sound installations at locations in Massachusetts, Vermont, Colorado, Pennsylvania, California, and New York City.

Ken Topham is the co-founder of the influential electro-acoustic duo GIRAFFES? GIRAFFES! Founded in Santa Cruz, CA in the early 2000’s, the band incorporates live phrase sampling and looping, and other electronic elements in their fun, dynamic, and accessible music. They have recorded several studio albums and toured internationally. Their album More Skin With Milk-Mouth (2007) was mastered by Dan Rathbun (Sleepytime Gorilla Museum) and is widely considered a quintessential contribution to the ‘Math Rock’ genre. In 2018, the band performed on the main stage at ArcTanGent Festival in Somerset, England, supporting headlining act Shellac. The band has recorded songs with Grammy Award-winning, American singer/songwriter Dan Wilson (Semisonic). They have been featured in the independent documentary film Do It Together: A Documentary About Independent Music (2015), along with artists Steve Albini, Mark Mothersbaugh, Mike Watt, Dan Deacon, and Deerhoof.

Ken has been the recipient of several performing arts grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. He has been commissioned to compose original works for acoustic instrumental ensembles as well as for electronic groups.

Ken is a professor of instrumental, vocal, and electronic music performance and composition, DIY studio recording techniques, and music history. He has over a decade of experience teaching classes and private lessons, and directing ensembles. He has created original sound design, scores, and edited audio for films and visual media, as well as multimedia studio productions and performances. 

Ken Topham lives in western Massachusetts and is currently available for session work, collaborations, lessons, arranging/orchestration, engraving, and commissions for original compositions.