Brian Jordan, principal percussion, was formerly principal percussionist of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed with orchestras across the country, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Florida Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, Delaware Symphony and National Repertory Orchestra.
The New Jersey native began his orchestral studies with Alfred Jorgensen, timpanist of the New Jersey State Opera. He received his bachelor’s of music degree from Northwestern University studying with Jim Ross and She-e Wu and his master of music degree from Temple University as a student of Alan Abel and Chris Deviney.
Jordan first performed with the Naples Philharmonic at their Percussion Summit in 2013 and appeared as a soloist on the Sypert Salon Series in 2014. He has served on the faculty of Florida Gulf Coast University and is an artist endorser for Grover Pro Percussion and Zildjian cymbals. Jordan and his wife, Sarah, are excited to be a part of the Naples community.
Name: Brian Jordan
Instrument: Percussion
Hometown: Iselin, NJ
At what age did you begin playing your instrument? Drums at 9, after playing piano for a year.
Who have been your greatest musical influences? In chronological order, Genesis, Nobuo Uematsu, Pantera, Blast!, Don Liuzzi, She-e Wu, Chris Deviney, Jim Ross, and Alan Abel.
Who are your favorite composers? Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, John Williams, Billy Joel.
What career path would you have taken had you not chosen music? A drummer [Rimshot]. As a child my only other ambition was to be a video game tester.
What's currently playing on your iPod or CD player? It's different every day, but I'll periodically go back to Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and Beethoven Piano Sonatas.
Your hobbies and interests: Gardening - I have great thyme and like to keep beets...
Some little-known, yet interesting facts about you: My first 5 years of drumming were in a heavy metal band with my older brother on guitar. Also, I've known my wife for longer than I haven't, and almost as long as I've been drumming. I guess she was attracted to the noise...
Funniest concert moment: In college, I picked up cymbals from one side of a poorly balanced percussion table. The heavy bell tree opposite me crashed to the ground, turning the table into a lever that sent a woodblock flying into the woodwinds. But that wood never happen in Naples [knock on wood].
Daily practice rituals: Avoiding rituals. But I try to hit something everyday.
The question you're asked most often about your instrument (and your answer): Q: How hard can the triangle be? A: Hard as steel.
Your favorite part about playing in the Naples Philharmonic: My favorite part is the playing, but I am most grateful for it when people ask, "so what's your day job?"
