Dakota Kaylor is an active percussion performer and educator in the Northern Virginia area. He has performed with the Fairfax Symphony, Arlington Philharmonic, McLean Symphony Orchestra, Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra, and the Great Noise Ensemble. In addition, he has performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater and Reach, Olney Theater, Atlas Performing Arts Center, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, and Creative Cauldron. Dakota has performed twice at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, 2017 Virginia Music Educators Association. He is currently a staff accompanist with the George Mason University School of Dance, where he works with various faculty members and guest artists in daily Modern Dance classes.

2020 is Dakota’s third year as the Assistant Director of the Vienna Jammers Percussion Ensemble. The Jammers recent performances include the 2019 Percussive Arts Society International Convention and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Dakota has taught concert and marching percussion at multiple high schools in Fairfax County. From 2016-2019, he was an assistant instructor at the George Mason Summer Percussion Camp. He gives weekly private percussion lessons to 15-20 grade school students. In 2018, he was invited to the Young Alumni Networking Dinner at his alma mater Indiana University of Pennsylvania as a special guest.