Jonathan Villegas believes in the value of educating future generations of musicians and leaders, by
creating music that can inspire and connect with local communities through the engagement of this art
form and its intersectional potential. As a conductor, cellist, actor, clinician, and educator, their mission is
to continue transforming the world through all art forms by using our musicals gifts to help cultivate
lasting relationships that will develop opportunities to continue uplifting underserved communities.
Jonathan currently serves as the Assistant Artistic Director at D.C.’s Different Drummers in Washington,
D.C, as well as the Wind Ensemble Director at Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids program.
After having spent the last few years performing in Portland, Oregon as the Assistant Conductor to the
Portland State University Orchestra, Bands & Opera, Jonathan now resides in Baltimore, Maryland. From
the desire to be a well-informed and multi-faceted symphonic conductor, Jonathan is pursuing a master’s
in music in Wind Conducting at the Peabody Conservatory with Dr. Harlan Parker, as an Artistic
Excellence Scholar. He hopes to use their expertise as a cellist, background as a teacher and clinician to
youth string orchestras and concert bands, along with his recent experience conducting multiple types of
collegiate ensembles, towards his time at Peabody to expand their skillsets with the art of wind literature
to enhance their conducting.

Prior to relocating to the East Coast, from 2021-2023, Jonathan was the Graduate Teaching Assistant to
the Portland State University Orchestra & Bands and received his Master’s in Cello Performance in 2023
with Hamilton Cheifetz. They have also supported future generations of musicians their work in Portland
by serving as a Substitute Conductor for the Metropolitan Youth Symphony.
With a passion for all their students to always have fun creating high-level music, Jonathan aims to use
their expertise as a conductor, towards inspiring young musicians to achieve their dreams, because after
surviving all sorts of adversity through their background in representing several marginalized groups, he
believes that through our passion for music, anything is possible when you believe in its transformative
and healing nature.

Jonathan aims to share their diverse and dynamic background as a performer and educator, to continue
to connect all aspects of music with one another, while being an ambitious and positive leader as a
proud Latinx and queer performer.

Additionally, you can find more information about Jonathan such as media samples and contact
information on their website at: jvconductor.com or through email at: info@jvconductor.com