Jacob Kryger performing with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

Jacob Kryger

Performer and Educator

Edmonton born percussionist Jacob Kryger leads a compelling freelance orchestral career. Jacob performs regularly with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and has been since 2017. In addition to his continued work with the ESO, Jacob held the position of Assistant Principal Percussion with the Regina Symphony Orchestra from 2021-2023. He is a frequent soloist with the ESO, having appeared in 2019, 2024 and 2025 playing the music of Corelli/Jenkins, Vincent Ho, Nicholas Gilbert and Dinuk Wijeratne. Jacob is the percussion sessional instructor at Concordia University of Edmonton.

As a freelancer, Jacob has performed with many orchestras. He performs regularly as timpanist for Early Music Vancouver and the Pacific Baroque Orchestra. He has also performed with many other orchestras across Canada including GFN Productions, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, and Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra.

As an active chamber musician, Jacob regularly performs with Edmonton based percussion group Sticks and Stone. Jacob has also made appearances with chamber music groups including Windrose Trio, Vancouver Brass Collective and Redshift Music Society.

As an educator, Jacob has taught percussion clinics for the Winspear Conservatory of Music, University of Alberta Honour Band, The Windshoppe as well as many one-off clinics for school band trips. He also has his own private studio of students at his home studio and at Concordia University of Edmonton. Jacob has recently joined the Winspear Conservatory of Music as their newest percussion instructor.

Jacob received his Bachelor of Music with Distinction from the University of Alberta studying under Brian Jones (ret. Principal Percussion of ESO). He received his Master of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of British Columbia studying under Vern Griffiths (Principal Percussion VSO), Michael Jarrett (Assistant Principal Percussion Atlanta Symphony) and Aaron McDonald (Principal Timpani VSO).

Jacob furthered his studies through summer music festivals including National Youth Orchestra of Canada (2021, 2022), National Arts Centre Orchestra Mentorship Program (2022), Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar (2019) and the TorQ Percussion Seminar (2018, 2019).

Outside of his time as a musician Jacob is an avid cyclist and hiker! Jacob proudly commutes by bike year round in Edmonton, even through the winter snow and cold. He loves getting out to the Alberta Rockies for backcountry trips as often as he can with friends and his wonderful wife Olivia. You can often find Jacob and Olivia in their neighbourhood walking their dog Reuben! Jacob is also a dedicated vinyl record collector and loves listening to records on his 1970s stereo system.

Jacob Kryger