Spotlight | Principal Timpani, Michael and Susan Newburger Chair

Timothy Jepson

Timothy Jepson became principal timpanist of the Kansas City Symphony in August 1983. Jepson is a native of rural western Iowa and began his career as a professional timpanist at age 18. He graduated with honors from Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa. Jepson has played percussion with the Kansas City Brass as well as timpani and percussion with the Sunflower and Western Slope music festivals. He has been an active clinician, adjudicator and marching percussion specialist and served on the faculty of Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Tim enjoys collecting antique timpani. His oldest pair are German Baroque timpani built in 1750. He currently owns several mid to late 19^th century timpani from Paris, Rotterdam, and Altenburg. He most recently acquired four early 20^th century pedal timpani built in Chicago, IL. All the restoration is performed at Precision Classic Timpani in Portage, MI and Tim often uses these instruments on period appropriate repertoire with the Symphony