Courtney D. Jones is a Yamaha Performing Artist well versed on the national and international scene. While performing with various ensembles, either as a soloist or within a collaborative aspect, he explores multiple genres and musical disciplines. Although he focuses primarily on contemporary classical music, he also ventures into commercial, jazz, Latin, rhythm and blues, and world music.
Born in Rochester, New York, Jones completed his secondary and undergraduate education in Columbus, Georgia. While completing his Bachelor of Arts degree at Columbus State University, he participated in many performances, clinics, and festivals with Columbus State University ensembles. He has recorded with well-known artists such as Jens Lindemann, Joseph Alessi, John Bruce Yeh, and has won solo awards through various festival, regional, and national trumpet competitions.
While completing his Master of Music degree in trumpet performance at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia, Jones studied trumpet with J. Carlton Rowe, former principal of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band. He performed with the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind and Brass Ensemble, the Loudon Symphony Orchestra of Leesburg Virginia (assistant principal), and freelanced in the greater Washington, D.C. area.
Since moving to The City of Angels, Courtney completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts in trumpet performance and pedagogy where he was a Teaching Associate, Gluck Fellow, and the Brass Ensemble Conductor (2013-2014) at the University of California, Los Angeles. In winter of 2014, Jones completed his dissertation on "The Extend Techniques and Vocal Simulations in Frank Ticheli's 'First Voice' for Solo Bb Trumpet." Jones has also been the Assistant Conductor of the UCLA Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Large Jazz Ensemble, and frequently conducts chamber ensembles throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
On the classical side of things, he has performed with the Golden State Pop Orchestra, The Southeast Symphony, Macao Orchestra (China), Debut Orchestra, and frequently performs in Los Angeles' Classical Underground series which is an illustrious camaraderie of artists, musicians, and friends joining in their subversive belief in eternal, enduring, and ever-present living art. Within the jazz and commercial idioms, he has shared the stage with such artists as Kenny Burrell, B.B. King, Lalo Schifrin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Rihanna, Boy George and The Culture Club, and Stevie Wonder. Jones has also provided music for the film and television industries collaborating with shows such as Glee, Notes from Dad, Cougar Town, Criminal Minds, and many others.
Between teaching and freelance performing, Courtney promotes and encourages music education and instrumental performance throughout inner-city schools through the Music Outreach Program at UCLA, The Harmony Project of Los Angeles, Trumpets 4 Kids in Dallas, Texas, and as a part of the Art Of Giving Back. Each one of these outreach programs focuses on schoolchildren in their perspective area, and provides them with a sequential arts-in-education program when music programs and mentorship may be otherwise limited or absent. These programs are imperative because it 'gives back' to a few underserved inner-city communities and provides music training and mentoring to talented under-served youth.
Courtney D. Jones is now the Visiting Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of Iowa.
