Early Life and Education
Jacob Nissly grew up in Grimes, Iowa. He was introduced to drums at an early age through his father, who played in a rock band. Nissly began playing in his school band in fifth grade and later decided to pursue music professionally. His early percussion studies in Iowa were with Woody Smith.
He earned a Bachelor of Music degree and a degree in Jazz Studies from Northwestern University. He subsequently continued his education at the Juilliard School in New York, where he received a Master of Music degree.
Orchestral Career
Jacob Nissly has served as Principal Percussion of the San Francisco Symphony since 2013. His first performance with the orchestra was the 2013 Opening Gala, which included works by George Antheil and George Gershwin.
Before joining the San Francisco Symphony, he served as principal percussion of the Cleveland Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He also spent two years as a fellow at the New World Symphony in Miami Beach. These positions brought him to several of the leading orchestral institutions in the United States and allowed him to work across a broad range of symphonic and contemporary repertoire.
Solo Performances, Contemporary Music, and Recordings
In addition to his orchestral work, Jacob Nissly performs as a soloist and is particularly engaged with contemporary percussion music. In 2019, he gave the world premiere of Adam Schoenberg’s percussion concerto “Losing Earth” with the San Francisco Symphony. He subsequently performed the work with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Omaha Symphony. In 2022, he joined Northwestern University’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble for the world premiere of the version for percussion and wind ensemble.
Jacob Nissly can be heard on recordings with the San Francisco Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra. He also played drum set on the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s recording of John Adams’s “City Noir,” which received a Grammy Award.
Teaching
Jacob Nissly is Chair of the Percussion Department and Professor of Percussion at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He also works regularly as a coach at the New World Symphony. He previously taught at the Eastman School of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Since 2019, he has also served as a percussion coach at the Aspen Music Festival. His other educational engagements have included coaching at the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America and the Verbier Festival. His teaching combines orchestral training, solo performance, and an intensive engagement with contemporary percussion repertoire.
Artistic Profile and Collaborations
Jacob Nissly’s artistic profile is shaped by his work in classical orchestral percussion, contemporary music, and jazz. His education in both classical music and jazz, together with his experience as an orchestral musician, soloist, and educator, forms the foundation of his versatile musical practice.
As Principal Percussion of the San Francisco Symphony, he holds a central position within the orchestra’s percussion section. At the same time, he continues to participate in new solo projects and in the development of contemporary percussion repertoire. Jacob Nissly is a Kolberg Artist and also endorses Vic Firth drumsticks, Zildjian cymbals, and Remo drumheads.
A Look into Jacob's Setup
Snare Drum "Tamburo rullante"
The snare drum is one of the most important instruments in professional percussion. Whether in the symphony orchestra, chamber music, or contemporary repertoire, it demands exceptional precision, tonal versatility, and complete control across the full dynamic range.
For professional percussionists, choosing the right snare drum is essential. The shell, drumheads, snare wires, and throw-off all shape the instrument's character, allowing the sound to be perfectly matched to the repertoire, venue, and ensemble. A high-quality snare drum offers a sensitive response, outstanding projection, and reliable playability—from the softest pianissimo passages to powerful orchestral accents.
Designed for the highest professional standards, the Kolberg Tamburo rullante features the innovative trio piano-forte-plus op. 2 throw-off system. The combination of a premium shell, precise snare response, and three interchangeable snare systems provides exceptional tonal flexibility—from the finest musical nuances to powerful orchestral projection.
Photo Credits: Venera Red