Sidney Hopson
About this Artist
Percussionist, composer, educator, writer, and cultural policy consultant - Sidney Hopson is a consummate arts professional.
A member of the Grammy-nominated ensemble WildUp, he has performed with the LA Phil, LA Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, Juneau Symphony, LA Opera, American Modern Opera Company (AMOC), Long Beach Opera, Color of Noize, LA Master Chorale, Muse-ique, Pasadena Symphony & POPS, and Southeast Symphony. He has performed at the Academy Awards, La Jolla Music Society SummerFest, Spoleto Festival USA, Sick New World Festival, Coachella Festival, Ojai Music Festival, Lincoln Center Festival, Hear Now Music Festival, the Kennedy Center’s RiverRun Festival, and NPR’s Tiny Desk.
Hopson has performed alongside, recorded for, and toured with a vast range of artists, including: John Adams, Adele, Adam Blackstone, James Conlon, Billie Eilish, Danny Elfman, Peter Eötvös, Earth Wind & Fire, Rhiannon Giddens, Alan Gilbert, Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Sumi Jo, Chaka Khan, Seth MacFarlane, Wynton Marsalis, Rickey Minor, Anderson.Paak, T-Pain, Dirty Projectors, Ellen Reid, Rihanna, Craig Robinson, The Roots, Huang Ruo, Kaija Saariaho, Tyshawn Sorey, John Williams, Stevie Wonder, and more.
He has recorded on over 200 motion picture scores, including: Superman (2025), Elio, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Avatar: The Way of Water, NOPE, Encanto, and Coming 2 America. He can be heard on the newly re-recorded score to The Wizard of Oz at Sphere (Las Vegas).
Hopson produces programs, policy, and strategic plans for culture organizations, government agencies, and artists in the United States and abroad. He is currently developing a record label in Jordan for refugee-artists and collaborating in efforts to restore creative freedom in Afghanistan.
He has presented policy research at the United Nations General Assembly and the NATO Summit - in addition to guest masterclasses and lectures at The Juilliard School, USC, Butler University, CalArts, and the Music Academy of the West.