Jacob Kryger
Drums & Percussion
Edmonton-born Jacob Kryger is a dextrous percussionist with a compelling orchestral career. Jacob performs regularly with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and has done so since 2017. He has been featured as a soloist multiple times with the ESO on the iconic Winspear stage, performing captivating works including Dinuk Wijeratne’s “Spirit and the Dust”, Vincent Ho’s “Sandman’s Castle”, Corelli/Jenkins “La Folia” and Nicholas Gilbert “Moment de joie en coupe transversal”.
Jacob has travelled the country lending his skills to other orchestras as well. He performs regularly as timpanist for Early Music Vancouver and the Pacific Baroque Orchestra. From 2021 to 2023, he held the position of Assistant Principal Percussion with the Regina Symphony Orchestra. Jacob’s career has also led him to performances with GFN Productions, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, and Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra.
Jacob’s enthusiasm for percussion goes beyond performance. As an educator, Jacob is delighted to have grown his private studio in recent years - both at home and at Concordia University of Edmonton. Jacob loves to see his students grow and succeed in music but also see how the joy of music affects and benefits students’ whole lives. Jacob is thrilled to be starting as the new percussion instructor at the Winspear Conservatory of Music.
Jacob honed his musical skills in his hometown, with a Bachelor of Music with Distinction from the University of Alberta. He then moved to Vancouver to further his studies with a Master of Music from the University of British Columbia where he received a full ride scholarship for his degree. Through these degrees he has been honoured to study with renowned percussionists including Vern Griffiths, Michael Jarrett, Aaron McDonald, and Brian Jones.
Jacob continued to advance his percussion education through his summers with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (2021, 2022). He also participated in notable summer music festivals including the National Arts Centre Orchestra Mentorship Program, Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar and the TorQ Percussion Seminar.
Teaching Quote/Philosophy:
Learning percussion is fun!! I am committed to providing you with the best percussion instruction I can. My teaching has a detailed, engaging, and focused emphasis on technique. This gives us percussionists the tools needed to express ourselves in pieces of music! In studying percussion with me, students will develop an excitement and joy for music that will make you want to play every day. Music serves such an important role in people’s lives and percussion is a wonderful vessel to experience it through!
Lesson Description:
I teach percussion to students of all ages and levels of experience from beginners (age 5 and up) picking up sticks for the first time all the way to post-secondary and professional levels. In learning percussion with me you can expect to learn snare drum, marimba, timpani, xylophone, glockenspiel, drum set and many more instruments! Whatever your interest in percussion is, we can explore it. The possibilities of percussion are endless!
Education and Certification:
Master of Music in Percussion Performance, University of British Columbia
Bachelor of Music with Distinction in Percussion Performance, University of Alberta
Professional Associations and Memberships:
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Section
Edmonton Musicians Association, Local 390
Concordia University of Edmonton, Sessional Instructor
