Jacob Nissly was principal percussionist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) until he departed in February 2011 to accept the principal post with the Cleveland Orchestra.



Prior to joining the DSO in 2010, Jacob Nissly was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida for two seasons under the direction of Michael Tilson-Thomas. Jacob Nissly is a native of Grimes, Iowa and began his percussion studies with Woody Smith.



Jacob Nissly has performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and the Des Moines Metro Opera. He also spent two summers playing with the Verbier Festival Orchestra in Verbier, Switzerland and two summers with the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan.



Jacob Nissly has a bachelor of music and jazz studies from Northwestern University where he studied with Michael Burritt, James Ross, Paul Wertico, and Joel Spencer. He also received the master of music degree from the Juilliard School where he studied with Greg Zuber and Dan Druckman.



Jacob Nissly has also worked extensively with percussionist Michael Werner, Principal Percussionist of the Seattle Symphony. While at Juilliard, Jacob co-premiered Roberto Sierra's percussion concerto "Bongo +" with the New Juilliard Ensemble.