New York-based percussionist, composer, and improviser John O'Brien began his journey in music after receiving a drum set as a gift from his grandfather. Following early studies with percussionist James Neglia and jazz luminary Joe Morello, he received a B.F.A. in jazz performance from New School University where he studied percussion with John Riley and Andrew Cyrille and composition with Jane Ira Bloom, Kirk Nurock, and Rich Shemaria. He has performed and/or recorded with artists including Daryl Sherman, Warren Vache Jr., Mark Dresser, Kermit Driscoll, Kirk Nurock, The Composer's Big Band, The Walter Thompson Orchestra, The New York Soundpainting Orchestra, The Klezmer Brass All-Stars, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, and Maracatu New York. John is currently pursuing graduate studies in music composition at Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music, where he is a student of composer Jason Eckardt.