Josh Conklin is currently a freshman at the Manhattan School of Music, studying under Chris Lamb, Kyle Zerna, Duncan Patton and She-e Wu. Originally from New Jersey, he served as the principal timpanist of the New Jersey Youth Symphony as well as all-state band and orchestra for 3 years. He has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall and NJPAC. Josh’s interest in music expands beyond just percussion, as he has also had multiple compositions performed including winning an honorable mention in the NAfME Young Composers Competition. Josh also has a strong jazz influence, as he studied jazz drum set along with classical percussion for most of his life, and has performed at Dizzy’s Club in Lincoln Center. As a 6th grader, he created a dixieland jazz band that has performed at multiple events and festivals. At MSM, Josh has performed with the symphony orchestra and percussion ensemble.