Spotlight | Acting Principal Percussion

David Yoon

David Yoon joined the Kansas City Symphony in the 2019-2020 season as Associate Principal Percussion. Originally from Irvine, CA, he began playing the drum set in fifth grade. In high school he studied with Jack Van Geem at the Colburn School. He was an inaugural member of Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the USA, and performed in cities around the world including Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

David received his bachelor’s degree from the Juilliard School and was a recipient of the Kovner Fellowship. Before joining the Kansas City Symphony, he spent a year in the master’s degree program at the Manhattan School of Music. His teachers were Daniel Druckman, Christopher Lamb, Duncan Patton, Markus Rhoten, She-e Wu, and Kyle Zerna.

David has performed with various orchestras including the Atlanta Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. In 2023 he served as Guest Principal Percussion at the Colorado Music Festival. He is an endorser of Dragonfly Percussion and Zildjian Cymbals.