Christopher McLaurin, Principal
B.M. San Jose State University
G.D. The Juilliard School
Additional Studies, Cleveland State University

Member of the Orchestra Since 2007

Christopher McLaurin is the Principal Percussionist of the Kansas City Symphony and a faculty member at the University of Missouri - Kansas City. Before being appointed Principal in the Symphony, he was a member of the New World Symphony. His solo engagements have included performing Olivier Messiaen's Des Canyons Aux Etoiles with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group and Russel Peck's The Glory and the Grandeur with the National Repertory Orchestra. McLaurin has been a member of the percussion sections of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and the Napa Valley Symphony and has played extra percussion with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Colorado Music Festival, and Honolulu Symphony. He was a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, National Repertory Orchestra, Scheshwig Holstein Musik Festival, and the Round Top Festival. He is a graduate of The Juilliard School and San Jose State University and completed additional studies with Tom Freer at Cleveland State University. He is a Pro Mark Orchestral Artist and also endorses Pearl/Adams Instruments and Zildjian Cymbals.