February 14, 2026

Podcast

Josh Jones, Percussionist

host catherine beeson

World class musician Josh Jones takes us on a journey through the wild and wooly world of percussion.  Spoiler alert, it’s not just about whacking on things!  Josh exercises a host of skills for planning, flexible thinking, and creative solution making in his leadership roles.  Side quests include a trash can disaster triumph, Bruce Lee, Animal’s triangle skills, and coping with stress/anxiety in a mostly subjective field inhabited by a large number of people who struggle with appropriate interpersonal skills.

December 5, 2025

Podcast

The Tenure Denial and The Comeback

Host loki Karuna

When Josh Jones was denied tenure at the Kansas City Symphony, he alleged racism and the world listened. He joins Loki to tell his story, share how this experience has informed the future of his career, and to offer broader context on why fighting racism within the orchestral field is still important. 


October 30, 2025

Podcast

"American Mirror"

Host Loki Karuna

Josh Jones and Bill Neri join Loki Karuna to chat about the new album from Sphinx Virtuosi: American Mirror. Loki explores his history with the Sphinx Organization and encourages others to consider the diversity of tactics needed to institute change in the classical field. 


August 28, 2025

Review

Sphinx Virtuosi Explore Diverse Visions of the US on “American Mirror”

By Dalanie Harris

“Jones demonstrates both vigor and finesse in his performance, balancing seamlessly with the group.”


April 2, 2025

Review

Classical Concert Review: Sphinx Virtuosi play Joplin, Coleridge-Taylor, Skye, Stewart, Becenti, Carreño, and Taylor

By Jonathan Blumhofer

“Explosive, skittish, and exhilarating”


March 1, 2025

Review

Sphinx Virtuosi review- a virtuoso concert at Symphony Center, Chicago

by Debra Davy

“The superb percussionist Josh Jones, a Chicago native….wailed in extended, thrilling syncopation.”


February 12, 2025

Feature

Percussion Scholarship Program changed & saved his life, declares Josh Jones

By Emily McClanathan

“His former teacher, Patricia Dash, said of Jones’ performance, “It was the most incredible thing I have ever seen or heard. … I was just completely blown away. It was sensational.”


October 29, 2024

Review

Sphinx Virtuosi: Innovative and Thrilling

by Dinah Bodkin

“Jones put his virtuosity, amazing physical coordination, and musicality on full display with varied percussive elements holding everything together.”


October 21, 2024

Review

Sphinx Virtuosi and New York Philharmonic Play Black American Composers

by Gail Wein

“It was a wild piece with frenetic drumming countered by subtle moments of gentle trills on wood blocks. All in all, it was a roiling cluster of excitement.”


June 6, 2024

Feature

This Black Musician Says He Was Unjustly  Fired From His Orchestra Job. Now He’s Calling Out A System Of Inequality 

By Rayna Reid Rayford

“Winning three orchestral auditions in less than four years is an almost unprecedented accomplishment in the musical world.” 


May 24, 2024

Feature

A Black rising star lost his elite orchestra job. He won’t go quietly.

by Geoff Edgers

"Jones, they say, stands for so many other promising young performers whose careers have been hobbled by an antiquated system in bad need of repair.”


November 11, 2023

Feature

A percussionist comes home, with tenure and a world premiere

By Hannah Edgar

“For Jones, his Grant Park hire was a special relief after his experience in Kansas City.”


May 18, 2021

Feature

Artists to Watch: Josh Jones and David Yoon

Josh Jones and David Yoon are quite the duo . . . or they will be once they have the opportunity to play together. These impressive musicians, both under 30, have each experienced wild starts to their Kansas City careers.

By Libby Hanssen


March 1, 2021

podcast

Emotion through motion: how to make practicing technique profoundly rewarding

host Tanner guss

Percussionist Josh Jones shares how a mindful approach to technique empowers you to embody your emotions while playing. The principal percussionist of the Kansas City Symphony turns the tedious practice of technique into an endless process of learning how your body works.


December 4, 2020

Feature

SIMPLY THE BEST: Symphony rejoices at landing one of America’s finest

By Paul Horsley

““With each successive excerpt, Josh’s artistry was immediately apparent.”


April 1, 2020

Podcast

josh jones returns!

Jones’ second appearance on the @Percussion Podcast

hosts Ksenija Komljenovic, ben charles, karli vina, casey cangelosi


April 24, 2019

Feature

Principal percussionist Josh Jones on cancer and concertos

by Jill Girgulis

“Considering the magnitude of his medical procedure, Jones very reasonably could have declined the opportunity, but he was determined to make it happen.”


April 20, 2019

Feature

Josh Jones beats cancer in time to perform first concerto with the CPO

by Jon Roe

I tend to put a lot of emotional context into each piece that I play, Jones says. “It actually makes things a lot easier to learn”


July 26, 2018

podcast

josh jones

Jones’ first appearance on the @Percussion Podcast

hosts casey cangelosi, Laurel Black, Megan Arns


June 27, 2017

Feature

Pittsburgh Symphony’s next EQT Fellow: percussionist Joshua Jones


January 28, 2016

Documentary

Detroit's Percussionist Mastermind Joshua Jones | Uncharted: Power of Dreams

Joshua Jones is the "perfect storm" of natural talent. Jones got an early start playing the drums, understands how hard it is to get a job as a percussionist, and has an unyielding dedication to perfect his skills. Those four elements collide in this episode of Uncharted and capture him on the precipice of landing a job in one of the most exclusive artistic clubs in the world.

Produced by UProxx


June 6, 2014

Feature

Percussionist plays with heart and soul

By Michele Seyfarth


May 10, 2008

Feature

From the top: Rhythm and Strings

Host christopher O’reilly

In this From the Top at Carnegie Hall gallery, watch two video segments about 16-year-old Joshua Jones. In the performance video segment, Jones plays "Rhythm Song" on the marimba. Listen for the different rhythms in the piece. In the profile video segment, visit Jones at home in Chicago where he describes his love for percussion and the marimba. Whether he's accompanying the gospel choir in his church or playing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Percussion Scholarship Group, Joshua hears rhythms all around him.