Jacob Koch is a percussionist and educator passionate about sharing contemporary music and teaching life skills through music. Based in Northwest Ohio, Jacob has performed throughout the Eastern United States and abroad with the BGSU DMA Cohort and with his percussion ensemble Playroom Percussion, as well as, in various solo settings, chamber groups, and orchestras.

 Jacob began his formal music education at the University of Toledo he studied with Dr. Olman Piedra. He continued his education at Kent State University, where he directed the KSU drumline and assisted Dr. Matthew Holm in the percussion studio. Jacob is currently pursuing a DMA in Contemporary Music at Bowling Green State University, where he teaches applied lessons, coaches percussion ensemble, and assists with general music classes. 

Jacob has performed with the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, Firelands Symphony Orchestra, and the Cleveland Chamber Choir. He made his concerto debut in 2021 with the University of Toledo Wind Ensemble with Daniel McCarthy’s Chamber Symphony No. 1 for marimba. In 2026, he made another concerto appearance with the Kent State Orchestra as a featured guest soloist on Emmanuel Sejourne’s Concerto for Marimba and Strings. 

In the summer of 2024, Jacob traveled to Valencia, Spain to play at the Edeta Arts Percussion Festival. At this festival, Jacob explored the cities of Llíria, Valencia, and Santa Pola while performing contemporary percussion music in a series of public concerts. 

In 2026, Jacob traveled to Bangkok, Thailand to present a masterclass and guest chamber recital of contemporary music at Mahidol University. During this trip, he also spent 3 weeks in Bali, Indonesia studying Gambelan Kebyar with a focus on Kendang and Pemade playing.

Jacob also remains active in the pageantry arts community. He was a member of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps and the indoor percussion ensemble Matrix. As an educator, Jacob is the Percussion Caption Head for Rhythm in BLUE, and a front ensemble instructor at Matrix. He also has worked extensively with high school percussion sections around Ohio and Southern Michigan as a clinician, arranger, and marching percussion educator. With Jacob as a designer and percussion caption head, Rhythm in BLUE won the “Best of Show” award in their class at the 2024 and 2025 DCI Championships.