Ottmer, Jacob

Jacob Ottmer, percussionist and educator, features a multi-faceted career that includes composing, arranging, performing, and educating at all levels. His current projects include revitalizing the percussion repertory’s chamber music and exploring live sound manipulation, while in his off time he enjoys baking desserts. 

As an educator, Jacob has taught the Percussion Methods course at CCM for Music Education majors and has recently taught an Open Class Drum Corps group. He has been teaching marching percussion since 2016 and draws heavily on his experience in the activity with groups like Santa Clara Vanguard and Monarch Independent. Private lessons are another major component for Jacob’s teaching as he has taught both classical percussion and drum set to a variety of students. As part of his work teaching the marching arts, he has also composed and arranged for groups across the country. In 2021, Jacob began teaching percussion at Stiver’s School for the Arts in Dayton, Ohio, and he began managing part of CCM Prep’s CYWE youth ensemble. 

Jacob’s performance opportunities range from marching percussion and percussion ensemble competitions to orchestras and chamber music festivals. Playing with SCV, he was awarded the Fred Sandford High Percussion trophy at the conclusion of the summer. Recently, he has been a finalist in orchestral auditions and has been hired to perform in various orchestras within Ohio. As part of his chamber music project, he has premiered new works during the Space City New Music Festival in his hometown, Houston, Texas, and is continuing to compose and commission new chamber music with a greater vision for the role of the percussionist. In Cincinnati, he is an active participant and organizer in Cincinnati New Music Ensemble’s Board which aims to serve the Cincinnati Arts community. 

Currently, Jacob has begun work on his DMA at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music studying with Jim Culley and Rusty Burge. Prior to this, he received his Master’s degree there at CCM and his Bachelor’s degree at Kent State University studying under Dr. Matt Holm, Cameron Leach, and Zach Mathes. By the fruit of his work in the DMA program at CCM, he has founded the P4 Quartet whose premiere performance was in November of 2021 with Bartok’s renowned Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion.