Jonathan Haas

Jonathan Haas is known worldwide as a soloist, orchestral timpanist, percussionist, conductor, teacher, clinician, and entrepreneur. He has garnered international acclaim for his performances of Philip Glass’s Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists and Orchestra, which he commissioned and has performed seventy times worldwide with numerous top orchestras. Mr. Haas is principal percussionist of the American Symphony, principal timpanist of the New York Pops Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, principal timpanist of the Aspen Chamber Symphony, percussionist of the American Composers Orchestra, and president of Gemini Music Productions. Haas is a professor of music, director of percussion studies, co-director of the orchestra program, and conductor of the Contemporary Music Ensemble at New York University and teaches at the Juilliard Pre-College Division. He is also conductor of the JPC and Aspen percussion ensembles. Mr. Haas has performed and recorded with Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, The Who, and the Grammy Award–winning Zappa’s Universe, among others. In his quest to showcase the timpani in unusual musical settings, Haas is known for his Hot Jazz Timpani performances, highlighting a unique instrumental combination with his nine-piece Latin/jazz ensemble Johnny H. & The Prisoners of Swing. Haas is also the author of the timpani method book, Jazz Virtuostics for Timpani.