James Koo | 顧雲皓
James Koo is an award-winning percussionist who has dedicated much of his artistry to the study of ritualistic practice through the contemporary classical genre. His performances and recordings have both been officially published by PSNY and have won multiple awards.
Recent engagements include the 2024 Tromp Concours, soundON Festival, performances with San Diego New Music (NOISE Ensemble), Percussion group Red Fish Blue Fish and Project Blank San Diego. In 2025 he is currently working on an interdisciplinary collaboration with Chinese dance theorist and choreographer Dr. Fang Fei Miao with premiers set in theaters in Lyon and Paris, France.
He is the 2023 concerto competition winner at the University of Michigan and won the Eugene Bossart Prize performing the Chen Yi Percussion Concerto with the University Symphony Orchestra. In the same year, he presented elements of his clinic 鼓樂 | Gǔ Yùe at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention as part of their World Artist lineup. In 2022 his recording of Trans - Lei Liang (2013) was featured and awarded in the Black Swamp Multi Percussion Showcase. Similarly in 2021 his recording of Dialectal Percussions - Lei Liang (1994) was also awarded at the Chicago International Music Festival for Best Work by an Asian Composer.
In 2022 he performed All Rise with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz At Lincoln Centre Orchestra. In 2021 he appeared with Ensemble Intercontemporain performing Le Espaces Acoustiques - Gerard Grisey. Additionally, he has performed and worked with Silk Road Ensemble member and Grammy award-winning artist, Kaoru Watanabe.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, James began his percussion studies at age six where he was enrolled in the Traditional Chinese Percussion program at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts studying with Yim Hok Man and Chau Chin Tung. In 2022 he graduated cum laude and received his B.M at The Boston Conservatory studying with Doug Perkins, Nancy Zeltsman, Samuel Solomon, Kyle Brightwell, Jon Bisesi, and Matt Smallcomb. In 2024 he graduated from the University of Michigan receiving a Masters of Music in Percussion Performance and Chamber Music, and a Graduate Certificate in World Performance Studies. His Primary instructors were Doug Perkins, Ian Antonio, Nancy Zeltsman, Tom Sherwood and Jeremy Epp. He is currently pursuing a Doctor in Musical Arts at The University of California San Diego studying with Distinguished Professor Steven Schick and is a member of the percussion ensemble Red Fish Blue Fish.