Jonathan Simmons

Dr. Jonathan Simmons has soloed with orchestras in multiple states, including giving the USA premiere of Rudolf Matz's Concert in Modo Antico during his doctoral research. A multiple-time prize winner in the Tennessee Cello Workshop Competition, Jonathan was also a winner of the 45th Annual Ruth Kern Young Artists Concerto Competition in Atlanta.

Internationally, he has performed in South Africa at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival. As recitalist and chamber musician, he performs in venues across the southeast including the Sigal Music Museum and the Bo Bartlett Center and on concert series including the Coca-Cola Space Science Center’s Music Under the Dome, the Exultate! Concert Series, and the Festiva Concert Series (Greenwood, SC). Jonathan has attended the Cincinnati Young Artists Cello Academy and Chamber Music Festival (now Ascent International Chamber Music Festival) as a Conservatory Fellow, as well as the Masterworks Festival. He has collaborated in recital with pianist Alexey Trushechkin, violinist Ronald Long (The Chevalier movie), and international cello soloist Wendy Warner. Jonathan has performed with the Greenville, Charlotte, Charleston, and Greensboro Symphonies.

Jonathan holds a BM in Cello Performance (summa cum laude) from Bob Jones University studying with Dr. Yuriy Leonovich and held graduate assistantships at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music (MM) studying with Wendy Warner and at the University of NC Greensboro (DMA) studying with Dr. Alex Ezerman. He has taken masterclasses with Zuil Bailey, Alban Gerhardt, Melissa Kraut, among others and has worked with members of the American Chamber Players, the Rawlins Piano Trio, and the Calidore, Parker, and Fry Street Quartets. Jonathan is a researcher for the Cello Museum (www.cellomuseum.org) with whom he has published multiple articles and interviews. He serves as adjunct music faculty of Bob Jones University and the Orion Chamber Music Society String Camp (Troy, MI).