About
Rick Vena

Rick Vena grew up in Manhattan Beach, California, in a household where creativity was encouraged and curiosity was never discouraged. He discovered drums at 12 when he found a neglected kit in a neighbor's garage — no bass drum pedal, so he built one with a silver soup spoon for a beater. That instinct to find a way has never left him.

After years playing around Los Angeles, Rick moved to San Francisco. His first gig was performing live on a radio show with an Irish fiddler. From there he played with Big Bands, country groups, surf bands, folk ensembles — and spent a year running away with the circus. The common thread in all of it was friendship and collaboration, values he brings to every musical relationship to this day.

At San Francisco State University, Rick studied under Dee Spencer, Wayne Wallace, and Hafez Modirzadeh — artist-instructors who built an environment where students were free to pursue their own artistic vision. It was during this period that he began a formative friendship with master drummer Robert Kaufman, whose thoughtful approach to study and self-observation left a lasting mark.

Rick went on to earn his Master's degree from the USC Thornton School of Music, studying with Peter Erskine, Ndugu Chancler, Roy McCurdy, Aaron Serfaty, and Bob Mintzer. He has also had the privilege of studying with Eddie Marshall, George Marsh, and Matt Wilson.

Alongside his performing career, Rick has spent 15 years teaching — both in the classroom and in private lessons — at public and private schools throughout the Bay Area. His classroom work with K–8th grade students has covered voice, dance and movement, general music, piano, drums, ukulele, guitar, and performance, experience that shapes how he approaches every private lesson, regardless of age or instrument.

He teaches, arranges, transcribes, and performs — and is always looking for the next good musical conversation.