John Pennington

Dr. John Pennington is an educator, composer, performer, author, producer and conductor.

He holds degrees from the University of Michigan, Arizona, and Arizona State. John is an orchestral percussionist who currently performs with the Music in the Mountains Music Festival, Animas Music Festival, and the San Juan Symphony.

He has recorded three collections with longtime collaborator Cyprian Consiglio including In the Heart of the Desert, Awakening and Compassionate and Wise. John is the co-author of Liturgical Ensemble Basics.

His extensive studies in world music have included experience in African, Middle Eastern, Indonesian, Cuban and the South Indian Karnatak traditions. Recently, John studied the Northern Hindustani tradition of music in Haridwar and Delhi, India.

He is currently a professor of music at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado and the artistic director of the Animas Music Festival.