Ciaran Egan is a drummer, educator, and touring musician whose work has taken him across Aotearoa’s stages, festivals, and creative communities. With a degree in Jazz Performance (drums), he has built a reputation as a responsive, musical drummer with a deep sense of groove and an ear for what the music needs.
Ciaran has performed nationwide and shared the stage with leading New Zealand artists, including Big Sima and Tiki Taane, bringing his dynamic playing to both high-energy hip-hop sets and expansive, genre-blending collaborations. His live work has featured performances at major festivals such as Electric Avenue, Northern Bass, and Summer Sounds, as well as numerous iconic venues around the country. Comfortable moving between jazz, hip-hop, rock, and improvised music, he brings intentionality and cohesion.
With over six years of teaching experience, Ciaran has worked with students aged 6 to 55, offering a broad range of technical, rudimental, and creative pathways. His approach is centred on tailoring learning to the individual while developing strong time, expressive dynamics, and stylistic awareness. Lessons draw on everything from foundational stick control to improvisational concepts, always with the aim of producing musicians who can listen deeply and play musically.
Guided by the belief that drumming should elevate and shape the music, Ciaran teaches and performs with an emphasis on musicality, clarity of intention, and the subtle craft of playing for the song. When Ciaran isn’t teaching at Rata Studios, you can find him playing drums in the city at spots like The Rogue and Vagabond, Bebemos, and Meow.