John Rudolph

Biography

John Rudolph is firmly established as one of Canada’s leading percussionists. He was appointed Principal Percussion of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1997 and served in that capacity for 20 years. John was formerly principal percussionist of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the CBC Radio Orchestra and percussionist with the US Air Force Band in Washington, DC. John has appeared as soloist with the symphony orchestras of Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, and the National Arts Centre.

As a chamber musician, John has performed with Canada’s premiere percussion ensemble NEXUS, Amici Chamber Ensemble, Soundstreams, Masterpiece Music, Vancouver New Music, and the Vancouver Chamber Music Festival. He frequently performs as a member of the Rudolph Family Players with his wife, flutist Kathleen Rudolph and daughter, violist Theresa Rudolph. By invitation, he has performed with the percussion sections of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Kirov Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and Washington DC’s National Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to the Faculty of Music, John is on the faculty of the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. He has been a featured clinician for the Ontario Percussive Arts Society and given masterclasses at Lakehead University, Laurentian University, the University of Ottawa and Interlochen Summer Arts Camp in Michigan. Previously, John was Adjunct Professor of Percussion at the University of British Columbia and a faculty member of the Vancouver Academy of Music. His students have gone on to successful careers in the orchestras of Vancouver, Victoria, Chicago, Seoul, Bergen, and the National Ballet of Canada.

John received the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal in August, 2012 in recognition of his service to Canada as a member of the faculty of the National Youth Orchestra. A native of Philadelphia, John studied privately with Alan Abel and Charles Owen of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he studied with Russell Hartenberger, Tony Ames, and Morris Lang.

He enjoys reading history and following the Philadelphia sports teams. John is an avid runner and has completed 28 marathons including five Boston Marathons.