John Willmarth is an active performer, composer, author, and educator in the central Kentucky area.  A versatile percussionist, Willmarth is experienced in many areas of percussion including jazz, concert, marching, and world percussion. 

A multi-faceted educator, Willmarth works with musicians that range from beginners to advanced university students.  He currently serves as Director of Percussion at Lafayette High School, a 13 time marching band state champion and a Bands of America Grand National finalist.  At the University of Kentucky, he is an adjunct faculty member specializing in drumset studies and jazz vibes.  In addition, Willmarth maintains a private teaching studio at the Don Wilson Music Company in Lexington. 

As a freelance percussionist, Willmarth maintains a busy performance schedule.  He holds the drumset chair in the Dimartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra, The Raleigh Dailey Trio, and the University of Kentucky Jazztet.  In addition, he is a regular percussionist for the Paragon Music Theatre Company, and has performed with the Lexington Brass Band and the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra.  In 2005, Willmarth and fellow percussionist Jim Corcoran formed the Tandem Percussion Duo.  The group is dedicated to exposing kids to percussion through school and community performances.  Willmarth is a former member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps where, in 1995, he helped to lead the corps to its second DCI title as section leader of the drumline. 

An emerging composer, Willmarth received 2^nd place honors in the 2006 Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest for his piece for solo timpani, “Bushido: The Way of the Warrior.”  His percussion compositions and arrangements are published by Innovative Percussion and Drop6 Media, Inc.  As an author, Willmarth has contributed articles to Percussive Notes and Bluegrass Music News. 

Willmarth earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Kentucky under the tutelage of James Campbell.  At the University of Iowa, he completed a master’s degree in percussion performance where he studied with Dan Moore, James Dreier, and John Rapson.  Willmarth has also studied with Bret Kuhn, Mike Gould and Dick Sisto.  He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society and an artist with Innovative Percussion, Evans Drumheads and the Yamaha Corporation of America.  

John resides in Lexington with his wife Sharon, son Jonah, and two dogs Maggie and Molly.