About Jeffrey Kautz

Award-Winning Solo Timpanist Jeffrey Kautz is very passionate and moved by the timpani.

In his education, Jeffrey attained a Master of Music degree in Timpani Performance from NYU Steinhardt in 2019 and a Bachelor of Music degree with Honors in Percussion Performance from Mannes School of Music in 2017.

As an orchestra musician, Mr. Kautz is currently Principal Timpanist of the Centre Symphony Orchestra and the Manhattan Symphonie, and a Percussionist of the South Shore Symphony Orchestra in Long Island, NY. Before joining those groups, Jeffrey was a former Actor Drummer on the HBO series The Plot Against America, and former Principal Timpanist of the Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Summer Nights: Young Artists Music Festival,  Amore Opera, Apotheosis Opera, and the International Chamber Orchestra of America.  

As a competitor, Jeffrey has won an impressive number of prizes and awards –twenty-nine between 2015 and 2022 in competitions as a Timpanist in the U.S., Singapore, Canada, Austria, Germany, Estonia, Sweden, Hong Kong, Italy, Greece, Spain, France, and Switzerland.

As an educator, Jeffrey is currently a percussion instructor for Music & Arts in Commack, NY. Before that position, Jeffrey was a former percussion instructor for Music & Arts in Deer Park, NY, and The Music Academy for Special Learners in West Babylon, NY.

As a conductor, Mr. Kautz was the former Music Director and Conductor for the Winters Center for Autism Percussion Ensemble.

As a soloist, Mr. Kautz has appeared as a timpani concerto soloist with the Mannes Orchestra, NYU Steel Band, NYU Percussion Ensemble, South Shore Symphony Orchestra, and the Winters Center for Autism Percussion Ensemble.