Brandon “Taz” Niederauer

Brandon Niederauer, born on March 16, 2003, in Dix Hills, New York, began his musical journey at a young age after being inspired by the movie *School of Rock*. His talent quickly emerged, leading him to star as Zack in *School of Rock the Musical* on Broadway in 2015. His guitar teacher, William Mignoli, nicknamed him ‘Taz’ due to his dynamic and intense playing style, reminiscent of the Tasmanian Devil. Prior to turning 15, Niederauer had already performed with accomplished musicians such as Gregg Allman, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Stevie Nicks, Lady Gaga, and Buddy Guy. He made appearances on national television shows including *The Ellen Show*, *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert*, *Good Morning America*, and *The View*, showcasing his abilities to a broad audience.

Niederauer’s career has included notable milestones beyond the stage. In 2017, he performed with the German rock band Scorpions and was notably playing a guitar solo during Col. Bruce Hampton’s birthday celebration when Hampton unexpectedly passed away on stage. Public attention further grew in 2018 when a tweet of him playing the National Anthem on guitar went viral. He later performed the National Anthem at Wrigley Field for a Chicago Cubs baseball game in 2019 and during the opening ceremonies of the 2020 AFC Championship Game in 2021. His acting career has also progressed, including a role as Virgil in Spike Lee’s Netflix series, *She’s Gotta Have It*, in 2019, and a recent role in the Sony Pictures film *SATURDAY NIGHT*.

In 2019, D’Angelico Guitars released a signature Brandon “Taz” Niederauer model of their Atlantic guitar, recognizing his influence and talent. He enrolled as an undergraduate at Yale University in 2021, pursuing an economics major, with graduation projected for May 2025. Despite his academic pursuits, Niederauer continues to balance his studies with extensive touring across the US, Europe, Asia, and Canada, as well as releasing new music. He is currently a touring guitarist with multi-Grammy winning performer Jon Batiste and has collaborated with Grammy-winning producer Theron “Neff-U” Feemster on his debut studio project. His recent headlining tour included sold-out shows at venues such as the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, demonstrating his continued growth as an artist.