Jonathan Bisesi

Appointed Fall 2023

Jonathan Bisesi is currently the Director of Percussion Studio at the University of Maryland where he teaches private lessons, directs the UMD Percussion Ensemble, teaches courses in Percussion History and Literature, Percussion Pedagogy and the UMD Percussion Department Studio Class. Recent collaborations and works performed include Joseph Schwantner's newest solo concerto, Fast Track - performed with the University of Maryland Wind Orchestra -, The Rags of George Hamilton Green - performed with the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble -, Music for 18 Musicians and Sextet, both by Steve Reich and performed as a part of the 10th International Conference on Music and Minimalism hosted at the University of Maryland in May, 2026. 

Professor Bisesi held the position of percussionist with The “President’s Own” United States Marine Band from 2004 - 2024. He has been a featured soloist with the Marine Band on multiple occasions, most notably on the Filene Center stage at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in 2011 & 2016, and the “President’s Own” 2011 & 2017 National Concert Tours. 

As an active performer and educator, Professor Bisesi has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (2026 GRAMMY Award Winner - Best Orchestral Performance - Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie - Deutsche Grammophon), Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra (2024 European Tour), National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Boston Ballet, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera and Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestras, Buffalo Philharmonic, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and the New World Symphony. He has presented masterclasses at the Tanglewood Music Center, The Boston Conservatory, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, to name a few, and his signature xylophone mallets from Dragonfly Percussion were released in 2018. 

As a composer, arranger and children’s book author, his works are published by GIA Publications, Pocket Publications and Acute By Design. THEN/NOW, his debut solo percussion album, released in March, 2021. 

Mr. Bisesi was on the Board of Directors of the Vienna Jammers Percussion Ensemble from 2016-2021. In 2020, he co-founded and currently holds the position of Vice President on the Board of Directors of the Network for Diversity in Concert Percussion. The NDCP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in the concert percussion community. 

Mr. Bisesi received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a Masters of Music degree at Boston University. He was a fellow of the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan (2000) and The Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Massachusetts (2001). Upon completing his formal education, Bisesi was appointed to the Percussion Faculties at both Boston University (2002-2004) and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (2002 & 2003; 2024 - Present). 

He currently lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife, Meghan, their daughter, Josephine and a very energetic aussie-doodle, Rose.