Jordan Nielsen (he/him) is a percussionist, educator, and performer based in Price, UT. He is a member of the Heartland Marimba Ensemble and has worked extensively in performance, teaching, administration, and recording. Recently, he has held positions as the Director for Education and Outreach at the Missouri Symphony and as Professor of Percussion at Central Methodist University.

 

Jordan has toured throughout the Midwest and Pennsylvania as a Heartland Marimba Ensemble (HME) member. In the summer of 2022, he participated in HME’s “Composers Labfest” tour, where he was a part of premiering five new works. In November of 2022, he was a member of HM’s “Vivid Horizons” tour, taking him from PA and culminating in a showcase concert at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. In 2024, he was fortunate to be a part of the premiere of “The Death Valley Symphony: Dark Sky” at the Center for Mallet Percussion Research at Kutztown University. 

 

Jordan's versatility in performance is a testament to his skill and adaptability. He has performed with the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, the Odyssey Chamber Series, the Choral Arts Alliance of Missouri, collaboration with the Mareck Center for Dance, the Orchestra of Southern Utah, and various pit orchestras. Highlights include performing in Carmina Burana, Little Shop of Horrors, Fun Home, Mamma Mia!, 42nd Street, and Fiddler on the Roof. In competition, he has been awarded 1st place in the Chamber Music category (2015 Utah Day of Percussion), 1st place in the College Timpani Solo category (2017 UDP), 2nd place in the College Keyboard Solo Category (2019 UDP), and achieved a “Superior” rating in the Collegiate Marimba Category (2020 Mid-Missouri Percussive Arts Trophy), and 2nd Place in Collegiate Duo (2021 MMPAT).

 

He maintains an active teaching studio, JNPercussion Studios. His teaching philosophy is a highly collaborative approach to “meeting students where they are on their journey.” For him, this means understanding the unique circumstances that students may or may not have had and how they brought them to their current point. His students have received numerous 1st-place awards, principle chairs, “Gold” and “Exemplary” ratings in Missouri State District and State Festivals, the Missouri Day of Percussion, the Mid-Missouri Percussive Arts Trophy, and Missouri All-State Band and Orchestra settings. From 2019-2022, he led the front ensemble of the Hickman High School Marching Band. Under his guidance, the section was awarded “Best Percussion Section” in 2019. He worked as the percussion coach at the Missouri Symphony Conservatory from 2020-2022.

 

In recording, Jordan can be heard playing marimba on the soundtrack for the documentary film “Keep the Cameras Rolling: The Pedro Zamora Way” (2021) and the album “Heartland Marimba Dances” (2016) in which he was both a performer and engineer. Recently, he served as producer for “Stars Above” (2024), a marimba duo album by Duo LinLynn. In 2018, he served as assistant audio engineer for “Lou Harrison: Works for Percussion, Violin, and Piano” (Albany Records).

 

Jordan studied with Dr. Lynn Vartan at Southern Utah University (2019), earning his Bachelor’s in Music Performance. Upon graduation, the college faculty recognized him as the “Outstanding Graduate in Music.” He continued his education at the University of Missouri Columbia under the tutelage of Dr. Megan Arns and Dr. Connor Stevens, earning his Master’s in Music (2022). At MU, he served as a percussionist for the New Music Initiatives New Music Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Stefan Freund. Jordan was awarded the Nadeen Burkeholder Williams Award in Percussion and earned an Entrepreneurship Certificate at MU. Jordan proudly endorses Marimba One instruments and mallets.