Pete’s Percussion Podcast: Episode 485 - Jake Nissly

Principal Percussionist with the San Francisco Symphony and Director of Percussion Studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Jake Nissly stops by to talk about both of his positions, the orchestral auditions process, his mentors, being versatile in many genres of percussion, and his experiences with the Detroit and Cleveland Symphonies (03:30), specifics about the Principal Percussion Duties and the excellence of Davies Symphony Hall (28:30), his teaching position and his recent commissioning projects (35:15), growing up in Iowa, having family in the arts, being a highly motivated young person, making early connections to Northwestern (IL) and percussion versatility (45:50), his undergrad years at Northwestern and studying with Michael Burritt (01:04:10), going to Juilliard (NYC), freelancing in New York, and eventually earning a spot in the New World Symphony (01:14:00), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on working with young composers, his personal commitment to physical and mental health and long-distance running all over the world, lots of great books, memorable Chicago Cubs moments in his life, coaching his son’s baseball team, and the excellence of Steve Reich (01:20:15).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films (01:58:40).

Jake Nissly links:

Jake’s SFSO page

Jake’s SFCM page

Jake’s Vic Firth page

Jake’s Aspen Music Festival page

Losing Earth - Adam Schoenberg

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Will James in 2017

Steven Schick in 2025

Patti Niemi in 2018

Matthew Coley in 2021

Eric Hollenbeck in 2025

David Skidmore in 2025

Sean Connors in 2025

Peter Martin in 2025

Robert Dillon in 2025

Other Links:

Percussion Concerto - Andy Akiho

Katherine Siochi

Rene Orth

PEAUX from Pleades - Iannis Xenakis

Doug Perkins

Michael Tilson Thomas

“Suire for Violin and American Gamelan” - Lou Harrison

San Francisco Symphony Musicians

Michael Burritt

Paul Wertico

James Ross

Gregory Zuber

Daniel Druckman

Roland Kohloff

Joseph Petrasek

Robert Klieger

Eric Renick

Michael Israelievitch

Sergio Carreno

Richard Weiner

Marc Damoulakis

California Percussion & Backline Rentals

How to Write for Percussion - Sam Solomon

Davies Symphony Hall

Jack van Geem

Haruka Fuji

Tito Muñoz

Clair Omar Musser

Colts Drum & Bugle Corps

Woody Smith

Michael Pfaff (“Tortilla Man”)

Bill Stewart

Dave Weckl

“If I Wanted To” - Melissa Etheridge

“Kiss from a Rose” - Seal

“Third Construction” - John Cage

Kris Keeton

Annie Stevens

“Michi” - Keiko Abe

Eric Garcia

Brett Dietz

“Kin” - Pat Metheny

The Usual Suspects trailer

Ghostbusters trailer

Groundhog Dog trailer

The Matrix trailer

Barbie trailer

1984 - George Orwell

On the Road - Jack Kerouac

Kafka on the Shore - Haruki Marukami

Absolutely on Music: Conversations on Seiji Ozawa - Haruki Marukami

Music Has a Right to Children - Boards of Canada

Cubs win the World Series

The Bartman Incident

B-Bop’s

Music for 18 Musicians - Steve Reich

Mallet Quartet - Steve Reich

Drumming: Part 1 - Steve Reich

Music for Pieces of Wood - Steve Reich

Clapping Music - Steve Reich

Raves:

The 2026 Oscars Animated Film Shorts Nominees