Ken O’Rourke

Ken O’Rourke is a multi-instrumentalist and educator. He began studying drums at age 7, guitar at 11, and bass guitar at 13. As a percussionist in school, he participated in the New Jersey All-State Youth Orchestra as principal timpanist at age 14, and received best soloist awards in region-wide high school jazz band competitions both as a drummer and as a vibraphonist. He received his BM in Music Education and Percussion with a Jazz Minor at Ithaca College. In his career as a percussionist, he has performed in such venues as the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, NJPAC, Le Poisson Rouge, and the Rudolfinum in Prague, and has worked with conductors Alan Pierson, Michael Riesman, and James Baker. As a drummer he performed with The Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers at the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage and at Poor People’s Campaign rallies in Binghamton NY and Gouldsboro NC alongside Rev. William Barber II. As an electric bassist, drummer, and percussionist, he continues to perform extensively with many bands and projects of varying styles in and around NYC, including regular residencies at venues such as The Bitter End. He received a Masters in Music from Mannes School of Music in 2021, and he currently lives in Jersey City where he continues to teach and perform.