Since 1980 Mr. Von Drehle has worked extensively as a composer, bandleader and multi-instrumentalist (Saxophones, Accordion, Guitar, Slide Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion). He has received numerous commissions for music to accompany film, commercials, radio, dance, theater, and performance projects. In 2003 he was awarded a fellowship at the Sundance Institute to participate in their film composers lab. His film scoring work has included working with filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky on her 2009 Academy Award nominated H.B.O. documentary The Final Inch , working with Academy Award winning animator Joan Gratz, and working with multiple award winning short film maker Chel White, amongst others.

In addition to Mr. Von Drehle co-leading and composing for 3 LEG TORSO, he is also a member of the Afro-Hebrew ensemble KLEZMOCRACY, a resident composer for DO JUMP THEATER, part of the house band for LIVE WIRE, a monthly live radio show on Oregon Public Broadcasting that he also composed the theme music for, and half of VONIGA, a collaborative musical entity with Joe Janiga. VONIGA recently received a 2010 Caldera Artist Residency Grant.

Mr. Von Drehle has a B.A. in music from Marylhurst University and has studied North Indian classical singing.

You may write to Courtney at cvond@teleport.com