About Jonathan S.
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Jun, 2009 - PresentJonathan Saraga Music
TEACHING/SCHOLASTIC EMPLOYMENT 2017-Present: New York Jazz Academy, New York, NY (10 months/once a week/2-4 hours per week) 2019-2020: Jazz Empowers, New York, NY (9 months/twice a week/2 hours per week) 2016-2019: Thompson Jazz Studies @ University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO (12 months/5 days a week/4-8 hours per week) 2016: New York Ensemble Classes, New York, NY (3 months/once a week/2 hours per week) 2013-2020: Afro-Latin Jazz Academy of Music, New York, NY (6 months/twice a week/2-4 hours per week) 2010-2016: Gramercy Brass Orchestra of New York, New York, NY (6 weeks/1-3 hours per week) 2017: Jubilee Summer Enrichment Program, New York NY (6 weeks/1 hour per week) 2015: Lyceum Kennedy International School, New York, NY (7 months/4 hours per week) DEGREES 2019: Doctor of Music Arts degree - Jazz Studies/Trumpet Performance, University of Colorado, Boulder 2011: Master of Music degree - Jazz Studies/Trumpet Performance, SUNY Purchase 2009: Bachelor of Music degree - Jazz Studies/Trumpet Performance, SUNY Purchase ADDITIONAL EDUCATION 2015: Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music - The Banff Center, Alberta CA 2011: School for Improvisational Music Selective Summer Intensive Program, New York, NY 2010: Master of Music Degree - Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 2007: Vermont Jazz Center Summer Jazz Camp, Burlington, VT 2006: Queens College Summer Jazz Program – Queens College, New York, NY AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS 2022: Recording Academy Member Class of 2022 – Selected Member 2021: BMI Jazz Composers Workshop - Selected Participant 2021: U.S. Air Force Academy Band jazz/commercial trumpet vacancy auditions - Finalist (1 of 2 candidates) 2021: Unsigned Only Music Competition – Semi-Finalist 2021: U.S. Navy Band Commodores jazz trumpet vacancy (Washington DC, Washington) – Finalist (1 of 2) 2021: Millay Colony for the Arts Core Residency – Waitlist 2021: Haleakala National Park Artist in Residence program (Maui, Hawaii) – Finalist 2021: Downbeat Student Music Award (Graduate College Outstanding Arrangements, Small Ensemble) –Winner/Recipient 2020: GRAMMY-winning Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra’s 4th trumpet chair auditions – Finalist (1 of 3) 2020: BMI Jazz Composers Workshop - Selected Participant 2020: Downbeat Student Music Award (Outstanding Performance, Latin Group, Undergraduate Category) – Winner/Recipient 2020: Association for Popular Music Education conference (Edinburgh Napier University- Edinburgh, Scotland) – Selected Presenter 2020: International Society for Improvised Music conference (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music-Melbourne, Australia) – Selected Presenter 2019: Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works grant competition – Finalist 2017: International Songwriting Competition – Winner/Honorable Mention/Finalist 2017: International Songwriting Competition – Semi-Finalist 2016-19: Full Scholarship w/ Paid Assistantship/Instructorship for Doctor of Musical Arts Degree (University of Colorado, Boulder) 2016: ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award – Winner/Recipient 2016: International Songwriting Competition – Semi-Finalist 2009: Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition – Finalist (1 of 5) 2007: International Trumpet Guild Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition – Winner GRANTS/COMMISSIONS 2020: United States Artists 2020: International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers 2020: University of Colorado Boulder Music Advisory Board 2020: Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation 2020: The Actors Fund/Local 802 Musicians Union 2020: The Jazz Foundation of America 2020: The Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance 2020: The Recording Academy/MusiCares RESIDENCIES 2021: Chashama chaNorth Summer Residency program (Hudson Valley, NY) 2019: Banff Early Fall Musicians in Residence program (Alberta, CA) 2015: Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music (Alberta, CA) 2011: School for Improvisational Music Summer Intensive Program (New York, NY) NOTABLE ARTISTIC HIGHLIGHTS (all based in New York City unless otherwise noted) 2022: Work cited in Sammy Stein’s book, The Wonder of Jazz (Independent Publishing Network) 2022: Trumpeter w/ Brass Against – Southern Tour, Le Poisson Rouge 2022: BMI Jazz Composers Workshop's 33rd Annual Summer Showcase – Dizzy’s Club Coca- Cola 2022: Featured Performer/Composer for Composers Now Festival Virtual Opening Event 2021: Trumpeter w/ GRAMMY-nominated Terraza Big Band – Terraza 7 2019-20: Trumpeter w/ GRAMMY-nominated Remy Le Boeuf’s Assembly of Shadows Orchestra – The Jazz Gallery, Roulette 2019-20: Trumpeter w/ Jihye Lee Jazz Orchestra– Shapeshifter Lab, Birdland 2019-20: Trumpeter w/ Manuel Valera Big Band - Django, Terraza 7 2019-20: Trumpeter w/ Jason Marshall Big Band - Minton's Playhouse 2019: Trumpeter w/ GRAMMY-winning Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra - The Jazz Standard 2019: Trumpeter w/ GRAMMY-winning Mingus Big Band - The Jazz Standard 2019: Trumpeter w/ Birdland Big Band – Birdland 2019: Trumpeter w/ Migiwa Miyajima Jazz Orchestra– Shapeshifter Lab 2018-20: Trumpeter w/ GRAMMY-nominated Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society 2018: Headlining artist for the 1st ever Caribbean International Jazz Festival – Gelee Beach (Les Cayes, Haiti) 2017: Trumpeter w/ MacArthur Fellow Tyshawn Sorey Group - The Met Brewer, The Stone 2017: Release of 2nd album as leader, Journey to a New World (Fresh Sound New Talent) 2016: Soloist in world premiere of GRAMMY-nominated Jimmy Greene Big Band - Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola 2015: Lead Trumpeter w/ Eco-Music Big Band - Carnegie Hall 2015: Trumpeter w/ Eric Bergen - Birdland 2015: Trumpeter w/ Djakout Mizik – The Barclay’s Center 2015: Trumpeter w/ Henry Cole group 2015: Trumpeter w/ Steve Coleman large ensemble 2014: Callback for the Juilliard Artist Diploma program auditions 2014: Trumpeter in world premiere of 71 trumpet piece “Trumpet City” by Craig Sheppard 2014: Lead Trumpeter in U.S. National off-Broadway production of Damn Yankees (North America) 2013: Trumpeter w/ the GRAMMY-winning Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra - Birdland 2013: Trumpeter on Island Princess for Princess Cruises (Panama Canal) 2013: Festival of New Trumpet Music world premiere of Henry Brant’s “Flight Over a Global Map” – ‘Roulette 2012: Release of debut album as a leader First Vision (Blue Truffle Music LLC) 2011: Trumpeter at the Blue Note Jazz Festival w/ J.C. Hopkins Biggish Band – The Highline Ballroom 2010: Trumpeter with Zee Ave at the Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) awards - Putra World Tower (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) JAZZ FESTIVALS (all as sideman unless otherwise noted) Caribbean International Jazz Festival (Haiti) – As Leader The Blue Note Jazz Festival (NY) Cadence Jazz Festival (NY) – As Leader Peekskill Jazz Festival (NY) – As Leader Rochester Jazz Festival (NY) Albany Jazz Festival (NY) Anugerah Industri Muzik Awards (Malaysia) Kompa Music Festival (FL/Paris) Festival of New Trumpet Music (NY) RECORDINGS AS A LEADER 2017: “Journey to a New World” (Fresh Sound Records, LLC) 2012/2015: “First Vision” (Blue Truffle Music, LLC) RECORDINGS AS A SIDEMAN 2022: Tony Max - Love Yourself 2021: Real Stormin' Norman - Euphoria 2021: terrance peng - Bears May Try to Share Your Lunch 2021: ConSoul - Lonestar 2021: Craig Shepard - Trumpet City 2021: Alex Heffron - Looking Out 2020: Gary Fogel Lagtet - In the Nick of Time 2019: Gary Fogel LagTet - It is What it Is 2017: Noah Barker - Business Actual 2016: Eric Block - Spanish Island 2016: Eco-Music Big Band - Rebel Spirits 2016: The Oatmeal Jazz Combo - Instant Oats 2016: Eco-Music Big Band - Colors of Resistance 2016: Afro Peruvian New Trends Orquestra - Uniting Beats (Ritmos Que Unen) 2015: Ece Moisson - Gelmissin 2014: Wynn Walent With - Friends from Here and There 2013: Oatmeal Jazz Combo - Steel Cut Oats 2012: Math of Trees - The Gears Below 2012: Western Sky Music - Stations 2012: Do La Mizik - New York Time 2012: System Band - Se Nou'k Kon'n Fe'l 2011: Mr. Breakdown - Shake Daddy Jupiter 2011: Shedly Abraham - 7th Step 2012: The New York Korean Jazz Orchestra - The First Step 2010: Avishai Darash - Helix Kweentet 2010: Rafrechi - Jwet La Bel Nan Min'w 2009: Charlie Philips - Charlie Phillips 2009: Captain Coconut - Everybody's Business 2008: International Trumpet Guild - The Roads They've Taken: Winners of the ITG Conference Student Jazz Improvisation Competition, 1979-2008 2006: Doug Ratner - Surviving the City NOTABLE PERFORMANCE VENUES AS LEADER (all venues in New York City unless otherwise noted) Cornelia St. Café The Douglas St. Music Collective Seeds The Bar Next Door The Shapeshifter Lab iBeam Festival of New Trumpet Music Smalls Jazz Club Jazz at the Kitano Culture Lab LIC Dazzle Jazz Club (CO) Nocturne (CO) NOTABLE PERFORMANCE VENUES AS SIDEMAN (all venues in New York City unless otherwise noted) The Barclays Center St. Peter’s Church The Metropolitan Museum of Art Carnegie Hall National Arts Club Symphony Space NYU Skirball Theater The Stone The Cutting Roo Alice Tully Hall The Jazz Gallery Roulette Le Poisson Rouge Joe’s Pub Rose Hall The Blue Note The Jazz Standard Rockefeller Center Birdland Jazz at the Kitano Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola Fat Cat Zinc Bar The Hotel New Yorker Mezzrow The Apollo Theater Smalls Jazz Club Smoke Jazz Club St. Peter’s Church The Douglas St. Music Collective The Knitting Factory Sullivan Hall Firehouse Space Chris' Jazz Club (Philadelphia PA) The Painted Bride (Philadelphia PA) Spirits (Miami, FL) Bicentanial Park (Miami, FL) Putra Indoor Stadium (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) REVIEWS 4/4 Stars Recommended – Jazzwise UK (Tony Hall), Journey to a New World, 2017 4/5 Stars – All About Jazz (Troy Dostert), Journey to a New World, 2017 4/5 Stars – Jazz Journal (Brian Morton), Journey to a New World, 2017 3.5/4 Stars - Audiophile Audition (Fritz Balwit) - Journey to a New World, 2017 4/4 Stars – Sea of Tranquility (Jon Neudorf), Journey to a New World, 2017 4/5 Stars – All About Jazz (Dan Bilawsky), First Vision, 2012 4/5 Stars – All About Jazz (Dan McClenaghan), First Vision, 2012 4/5 Stars – All About Jazz (Hrayr Attarian), First Vision, 2012 INTERVIEWS (in no particular order) Friday Night Jazz (w/ Ray Vega) - Vermont Public Radio In Frequency (w/ Ethan Helm) podcast Debbie Burke Jazz Author (two separate blog interviews) The Trumpet Blog (w/ Bruce Chidester) KUVO-Denver, CO (w/ Arturo Gomez/Eric Troe) The Jazz Hole (w/ Linus Wyrsch) Hawai`I Public Radio (w/ Charles Husson) Public Radio International (w/ Jeff Hanley) Pulin 4 Jazz (w/ Rich Pulin) Sunday Night Jazz (w/ Ron Jackson) FEATURES Composers Now (featured piece on their “Sound/Visions” YouTube playlist) We Are The Art Talent Jungle Fluke Productions, London THEATRE (as 1st/lead trumpeter; all performances took place in New York City unless otherwise noted) 2016: Drowsy Chaperone - Riverdale Rising Stars 2015: Anything Goes - AfterWork Theatre 2014: The Wild Party - New Studio on Broadway 2012: Sweet Charity - New Harlem Arts Theater 2012: Damn Yankees - Way-Off Broadway Productions (National Tour) 2011: Guys and Dolls - LaGuardia High School production, LaGuardia High School
Education
Jazz
Jul, 2003 - Jul, 2003Queens College
DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts)
Aug, 2016 - May, 2019University of Colorado, Boulder
Jazz and Creative Music
May, 2015 - May, 2015The Banff Center
Master of Music
Sep, 2010 - Jun, 2011SUNY Purchase
Improvisational Music
Jun, 2010 - Jun, 2010School for Improvisational Music
Master of Music
Aug, 2009 - May, 2010Rutgers University (Mason Gross School of the Arts)
Jazz
Jul, 2006 - Jul, 2006Vermont Jazz Center
Bachelor of Music
Sep, 2005 - Jun, 2009SUNY Purchase
Awards
Recipient: 2005 Memorial Music Award
Sep, 2005Fred Mazart Foundation
Selected Member: 2022 Recording Academy New Member Class (New York Chapter)
Aug, 2022The Recording Academy
Selected Participant: 2021 BMI Jazz Composers Workshop
Sep, 2021BMI
Semi-Finalist: 2021 Unsigned Only Music Competition
Jul, 2021Unsigned Only Music Competition
Finalist: 2021 U.S. Navy Band Commodores Jazz Trumpet Vacancy
Jun, 2021U.S. Navy Band Commodores
Recipient: 2021 Downbeat Student Music Award
May, 2021Downbeat Magazine
Waitlist: 2021 Millay Core Residency
May, 2021Millay Colony for the Arts
Finalist: 2021 Haleakalá National Park Artist in Residence program
May, 2021National Parks Arts Foundation
Selected Participant: 2021 chaNorth Summer Artist Residency
Mar, 2021Chashama
Presenter: 2020 Association for Popular Music Education Conference
Dec, 2020Association for Popular Music Education
Presenter: 2020 International Society for Improvised Music Conference
Dec, 2020International Society for Improvised Music
Recipient: 2020 Downbeat Student Music Award
Jun, 2020Downbeat Magazine
Commission: 2020 ISJAC Covid-19 Commission Grant
May, 2020International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers
Finalist: 2019 New Jazz Works Grant Competition
Jul, 2019Chamber Music America
Selected Participant: 2019 Early Fall Musicians in Residence Program
Jun, 2019The Banff Center
Honorable Mention/Finalist: 2018 International Songwriting Competition
Apr, 2018International Songwriting Competition
Semi-Finalist: 2017 International Songwriting Competition
Feb, 2017International Songwriting Competition
Winner: 2016 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award
Feb, 2016The ASCAP Foundation
Selected Participant: 2015 Summer Intensive Program in Jazz and Creative Music
May, 2015The Banff Center
Selected Participant: 2011 Summer Intensive Program
Jun, 2011School for Improvisational Music
Finalist: 2009 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition
May, 2009International Trumpet Guild
1st Place/Winner: 2007 ITG Jazz Solo Competition
Jul, 2007International Trumpet Guild
Languages
Music
Professional Proficiency
English
Native Proficiency
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