Jonathan Allen began his musical studies at the University
of Northern Colorado with Edwin “Buddy” Baker in the Fall
of 1997. He continued his education at the same institution
with Dr. Nat Wickham. He received his Bachelor of Music in
Trombone Performance in 2005. In May 2007 he was awarded a
Masters Degree in Trombone Performance from the University
where he studied with Larry Zalkind. He is currently in his
first year of study at the University of Iowa where is he
an Iowa Performance Fellow and pursuing the Doctorate of
Musical Arts in Trombone Performance and Pedagogy.
Jonathan has had the opportunity to perform in a wide
variety of settings. He has performed with the Utah
Symphony, Utah Opera, Quad City Symphony Orchestra,
Orchestra at Temple Square, Greeley Philharmonic, Cheyenne
Symphony, Boulder Philharmonic, Fort Collins Symphony,
SLAJO (Salt Lake Alternative Jazz Orchestra) and The
Temptations. As a member of UNC Jazz Lab 1 he has performed
under the direction of Gene Aitken and Dana Landry. During
this time, UNC performed with the following artists: Maria
Schneider, Chuck Dotas, Bob Brookmeyer, Kenny Wheeler, and
Pete Fountain. In the winter of 2000, UNC Jazz Lab 1 was
invited to perform at the IAJE (International Association
of Jazz Educators) convention in New Orleans. In 2005 UNC
Lab 1 won the Downbeat Magazine Award for the Best College
Large Jazz Ensemble. Jonathan can be heard on "Alive XVII"
with the UNC Jazz Lab 1, under the direction of Gene Aitken
and several recordings with the Orchestra at Temple Square
and the Mormon Tabernacle Orchestra under the direction of
Craig Jessop.
While a member of the UNC Symphony Orchestra, the USO won
the Downbeat Magazine award for best U.S. College Orchestra
twice (2000, 2004). In his time with UNC Jazz Lab 1, the
group won two Downbeat Magazine Awards for "Best College
Big Band". Jonathan is a currently an Iowa Performance
Fellow, a prestigious award offered to only two incoming
doctoral students per year at the University of Iowa.
His teachers include Dr. David Gier, Larry Zalkind, Dr.
Donn Schaefer, Dr. Nat Wickham, and Buddy Baker. He has
performed in master classes with Michael Mulcahy, Ralph
Sauer, David Vining, and Dr. Will Kimball.
