Performer/Educator Darrell Voss has taught applied percussion at Cuesta College since 2000. A San Luis Obispo native, Darrell was raised in a musical family and played drums since the age of three. After graduating from San Luis Obispo High School in 1983, he then pursued a career as a  percussion instructor and active musician.  Cuesta College was an important training ground for his music studies; he obtained an AA degree in 1989. As a member of the Charter Class of Music graduates in 1994, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Darrell has studied jazz drum set styles with Jeff Hamilton and Steve Houghton and has been a member of the Percussive Arts Society for many years. Darrell was a presenter at the 2005 International Association of Jazz Educators Conference in Long Beach, CA during the Active Listening clinic. He currently performs with the Royal Garden Swing Orchestra, San Luis Jazz Band, Inga Swearengen, Hip Pocket, Hot and Cool Orchesta, and Viper Six. In addition, Darrell performs at the  Famous Jazz Artist Concert Series hosted by jazz great Charlie Shoemake of Cambria. Darrell has recorded and/or performed with many artists including Vocalogy, Charlie and Sandy Shoemake, Red Holloway, Matthew Van Doran, the Darrell Voss Trio & Jazz Quartet, Trio International,  the Paul Rinzler trio.  Darrell has also been known to have steady gigs at locations around San Luis Obispo such as Thursday nights at the Madonna Inn with the Hank Caraza Quartet. Darrell also held down the gig at the Grappolo, SLO, Thursday Night Jazz… for 5 years (2002-2007).