St. Louis, Missouri-based percussionist; composer; designer and builder of instruments; teacher; and writer. Not to be confused with Richard O'Donnell (2), an American classical percussionist and conductor based in Ireland.

Rich O'Donnell is director of the Electronic Music Studio at Washington University in St. Louis, and co-founder of HEARDing Cats Collective. He spent 43 years with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, most of them as principal percussionist.