About Jim Rennier

A native of Northwest Indiana, Jim’s career playing and teaching percussion began as he says: “By the grace of God and a computer error.” It seemed that a simple scheduling mishap during middle-school allowing him to enroll in beginning percussion class changed his whole life forever.

Jim’s percussion activities may have humble beginnings, but as a three-time All-State percussionist, he started down a path of considerable accomplishment. Upon graduation from high school, he attended Indiana University earning his Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance. He was the first percussionist to be awarded the Performer’s Certificate in recognition of his outstanding junior recital.

Upon graduation from I.U., Jim was offered a position overseas as Principal Percussionist in Maracaibo, Venezuela. However, after lengthy delays in receiving his contract, Jim eventually rescinded the offer and accepted the position as Principal Timpanist in the Midland-Odessa Symphony. Four years later Jim began his graduate studies at the University of Texas and won the position of Principal Percussionist in the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

Jim left the Austin Symphony Orchestra to join the faculty at McMurry University in Abilene expanding his career into higher education. He continued to teach at the university level holding positions at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and West Texas A&M University. He was fortunate to continue his performance career in tandem with his university duties.

Upon retirement from university life, Jim turned his musical focus to playing drum set and is now the leader of a jazz combo that performs regularly in Amarillo and the surrounding area.