Jonathan Simmons
Cellist Jonathan Simmons is currently pursuing a MM in Cello Performance at Columbus State University's Schwob School of Music. At Schwob he serves as graduate assistant for Orchestral Activities and studies with Wendy Warner. He recently graduated from Bob Jones University summa cum laude with a BMus in Cello Performance studying with Dr. Yuriy Leonovich. While at BJU he served as co-principal cellist of the Bob Jones University Symphony Orchestra and was twice awarded the William McEver String Scholarship. As a soloist, he has performed with orchestras in Tennessee and South Carolina with a performance of David Popper’s Hungarian Rhapsody in the Greenville, SC Peace Center and multiple performances of Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D Major. In 2016 Jonathan won second prize in the Tennessee Cello Workshop Competition at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. He was also winner of the 45th Annual Ruth Kern Young Artists Concerto Competition in Atlanta.
Jonathan has attended the Cincinnati Young Artists (CYA) Cello Academy and Chamber Music Festival as a Conservatory Fellow, as well as the Masterworks Festival. In his native Greenville, SC, he has given recitals at Buncombe Street UMC and Bob Jones University’s War Memorial Chapel. Jonathan has also performed for audiences in non-traditional venues such as schools and art galleries including the Bo Bartlett Center and the Rainey McCuller’s Center in Columbus, GA. He has collaborated in recital with Alexey Trushechkin, Wendy Warner, Jacob Bernhardt, and organist Catie Moyer. His performances include appearances on the Salon at 6 Series, the Festiva Concert Series, the Cincinnati Young Artists Solo Showcase, and the Coca-Cola Space Science Center’s Music Under the Dome series.
He has worked with conductors such as Steven White, George del Gobbo, and Paul Hostetter. His teachers include Dr. Christopher Hutton, Martha Brons, and Sharon Mulfinger Gerber. He has taken lessons and masterclasses with Zuil Bailey, Melissa Kraut, Alan Rafferty, Steven Balderston, Richard Weiss, David Kim, Peter Stumpf, Leo Altino, Wesley Baldwin, Brooks Whitehouse, Lawrence Stomberg, Greg Sauer, Robert Jesselson, Kim Cook, Miles Hoffman, the American Chamber Players, the Calidore String Quartet, the Parker String Quartet, and the Rawlins Piano Trio among others. He has also learned from musicians such as Natasha Brofsky, Andrée Martin, and Sergiu Schwartz.
Jonathan performs with the Columbus (GA) Symphony and the LaGrange Symphony and has served on the faculty of Musical Innovations Conservatory, Pinner Studios, Distinctive Music Studios, Majesty Music Academy, the BJU Educamps, and the Schwob School of Music Preparatory Division. His teaching experience includes teaching live online lessons to students as far away as Australia.
Jonathan has attended the Cincinnati Young Artists (CYA) Cello Academy and Chamber Music Festival as a Conservatory Fellow, as well as the Masterworks Festival. In his native Greenville, SC, he has given recitals at Buncombe Street UMC and Bob Jones University’s War Memorial Chapel. Jonathan has also performed for audiences in non-traditional venues such as schools and art galleries including the Bo Bartlett Center and the Rainey McCuller’s Center in Columbus, GA. He has collaborated in recital with Alexey Trushechkin, Wendy Warner, Jacob Bernhardt, and organist Catie Moyer. His performances include appearances on the Salon at 6 Series, the Festiva Concert Series, the Cincinnati Young Artists Solo Showcase, and the Coca-Cola Space Science Center’s Music Under the Dome series.
He has worked with conductors such as Steven White, George del Gobbo, and Paul Hostetter. His teachers include Dr. Christopher Hutton, Martha Brons, and Sharon Mulfinger Gerber. He has taken lessons and masterclasses with Zuil Bailey, Melissa Kraut, Alan Rafferty, Steven Balderston, Richard Weiss, David Kim, Peter Stumpf, Leo Altino, Wesley Baldwin, Brooks Whitehouse, Lawrence Stomberg, Greg Sauer, Robert Jesselson, Kim Cook, Miles Hoffman, the American Chamber Players, the Calidore String Quartet, the Parker String Quartet, and the Rawlins Piano Trio among others. He has also learned from musicians such as Natasha Brofsky, Andrée Martin, and Sergiu Schwartz.
Jonathan performs with the Columbus (GA) Symphony and the LaGrange Symphony and has served on the faculty of Musical Innovations Conservatory, Pinner Studios, Distinctive Music Studios, Majesty Music Academy, the BJU Educamps, and the Schwob School of Music Preparatory Division. His teaching experience includes teaching live online lessons to students as far away as Australia.