John Kilkenny is a percussionist, conductor, and executive leader who successfully manages a modern, 21st-century career in the performing arts. 

Committed to our time's music, John regularly appears as a soloist and chamber musician with various ensembles. He has given the Washington, DC, region premiere of Philip Glass's Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists and Wind Symphony and performed Michael Daugherty's timpani concerto Raise the Roof with orchestras and wind ensembles across the United States. Other notable concerto performances include Viet Cuong Re(New)al and Daugherty's U.F.O. 

Hailed as a "particularly fine timpanist" by the Washington Post, John has enjoyed an active career as a symphonic percussionist, appearing with the National Symphony, Washington National Opera, New York City Ballet, American Composers Orchestra, American Symphony, New York Pops, The Washington Concert Opera, Washington Chamber Symphony, Cathedral Choral Society, Washington Chorus, Choral Arts Society of Washington, and The Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra. 

Deeply committed to the future of classical music and a dedicated educator, John was Director of Percussion Studies and Associate Professor at George Mason University for fifteen years. The Mason percussion group, which John founded, has performed worldwide, including tours of Costa Rica, scheduled tours of China, and performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Clinic performances have also occurred at the Virginia Music Educators Association, New York State Music Educators Association, Western International Band Conference, and twice at the Percussive Arts Society International Conventions. 

Recognized internationally as an engaging and thoughtful clinician, John has enjoyed the unique opportunity to work with gifted young musicians at a wide range of institutions, including the Eastman School of Music, Shepherd School at Rice University, The University of Michigan, The Juilliard Pre-College, Interlochen School for the Arts, University of Tennessee, University of North Carolina, The National Institute of Music in San Jose Costa Rica, The University of Costa Rica, and the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. In addition, he has presented a regular series of workshops for percussion students at New York University for several years. A long-standing relationship with the Music for All organization has seen John appear for many years as an evaluator and clinician for the Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival. In 2019, he was the percussion clinician for the MFA Honor Orchestra of America. 

From 2011 to 2024, John was faculty and subsequently the Artistic and Executive Director of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival, one of the leading orchestral and chamber music festivals in the United States. He has also served as Executive Director of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. In 2024, he became the Executive Director of the New York Youth Symphony. 

John studied conducting with Anthony Maiello and began early percussion training with Jonathan Haas and William Richards. He received his bachelor's degree at the Juilliard School under the tutelage of Greg Zuber and Daniel Druckman. He completed a Master's Degree at Temple University, where he studied with legendary percussionist Alan Abel. He is sponsored by Vic Firth Mallets, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Percussion products, and Pearl/Adams Percussion.