Jonathan Ragonese, 18 year-old composer-arranger-musician, is a native of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. The remarkable young man began studying piano when he was 5. He took up the Alto Saxophone at the age of 10, and played his first gig at 14. Jonathan switched to Tenor Saxophone in his first year at Trinity High School. Like Harrisburg native Tim Warfield, Jonathan has been mentored by local artists like Ron Waters, Steve Rudolph and Tim himself. For two years he was an active member of the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz Board, one of the largest non-profit jazz organizations on the East Coast. In January of 2007 Jonathan performed as featured guest artist under the direction of Harold Wheeler, conductor for the 76th Academy Awards and musical director for TV’s Dancing with the Stars, at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Inaugural Gala. In his senior year, Jonathan was selected as first tenor saxophone in the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Justin DiCioccio. While at the Grammy’s he had the opportunity to perform and record with some of the brightest young musicians in North America. In March of the same year Jonathan was selected as tenor saxophonist in the MENC All Eastern Jazz Ensemble in Hartford Connecticut. Most recently, in 2008 Jonathan was a member of the NFAA Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellowship. He recieved the Gold Award in the Arts and performed at 2008 IAJE with the sextet. He has performed and soloed with some of the top musicians in the world including: David Liebman, James Moody, Patti Austin, Roberta Gambarini, Phil Woods, Bobby Watson, Tim Warfield Jr., Jon Faddis, Ira Sullivan, John Riley, Jay Anderson, Dick Oatts, Garry Dial, Francois Moutin, and Steve Williams. Jonathan is currently in his freshman year at Manhattan School of Music, where he studies privately with composer-arranger-performer Bob Mintzer.
HEY JOHN!! its been forever! ive been good.. startin to play a lot more n everything and i am alllmostt done with high school thank god,, im so anxious for college.. how have you been?? i heard that you were sitting in somewhere for bob mintzer??! ehh?
