Kyle Acuncius

Born in: Seoul, South Korea
Member Since: 2012

Additional Information

• Howard Hanson Scholarship (Eastman School of Music)
• Associate Instructor of Percussion: Full Academic Scholarship (Indiana University)
• Graduate Instructor: Full Academic Scholarship (University of Michigan)
• Member of the Percussive Arts Society International Committee
• Endorser of JG Percussion Timpani Mallets http://www.jgpercussion.com/KyleAcuncius.php
• Endorser of Black Swamp Percussion products http://www.blackswamp.com/t-bsp-educator-network.aspx

Multifaceted percussionist, Kyle Acuncius, enjoys a diverse and engaging career as a soloist, orchestral musician and educator. Mr. Acuncius has captivated audiences worldwide with his technical and virtuosic performances on a wide variety of percussion instruments. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Kyle was adopted into a family of musicians and grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri. He then began his musical training as a pianist with his mother at an early age and eventually gravitated toward percussion due to his keen understanding of rhythm and natural curiosity of sound.

Mr. Acuncius is currently Principal Timpanist with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra and Artist/Instructor of Percussion and coordinator of the percussion program at Mahidol University’s College of Music. Mr. Acuncius has previously held positions as Principal Percussionist of the Terre Haute Symphony and Section Percussionist of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Acuncius has had many opportunities to perform with a diverse spectrum of professional orchestras and wind ensembles including the Malaysian Philharmonic, Syracuse Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Philharmonic, Rome Festival Orchestra, Eastman Wind Ensemble and the Distinguished Concerts International New York’s Wind Ensemble.

Mr. Acuncius is an active advocate of chamber music and was a founding member and percussionist with Latitude 49 who performs and commissions living composers. Mr. Acuncius has previously collaborated with Contemporary Directions Ensemble, Contemporary Enclave, Musica Nova, the New Music Ensemble, OSSIA and Fifth House Ensemble.

Mr. Acuncius is also passionate about non-western musical genres from Brazil and Cuba having studied extensively with world-renowned recording artist and seven-time Grammy nominated Latin percussionist, Michael Spiro.

Mr. Acuncius holds degrees from the Interlochen Arts Academy (High School Diploma), the Eastman School of Music (BM), Indiana University (MM), and the University of Michigan (MM–Chamber Music, Specialist in Music Degree).