Composer/percussionist John O’Brien began his journey in music after receiving a set of drums as a gift from his grandfather. Following early studies with percussionist James Neglia, he became a student of jazz luminary Joe Morello. He received a BFA in music performance from the New School Jazz and Contemporary Music Program, where he studied drum set with John Riley, Andrew Cyrille, and Billy Hart; and composition with Kirk Nurock, Rich Shemaria, and Jane Ira Bloom. Since the late 1990s, he has been active as a New York-based instrumentalist, composer, and improviser; leading his own projects and as a member of ensembles including Cold Reading Trio, ZAHA, Urbana, The Walter Thompson Orchestra, and New York Soundpainting Orchestra. John is currently pursuing graduate studies with composer Jason Eckardt at Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music.