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The American tenor singer and trumpet player, Michael Jones, attended Peoria Central Performing Arts High School in Illinois, where he took private lessons with Bradley University faculty Todd Kelly and Shirley Salazar. He obtained his Bachelor of Music degreee in Jazz Studies from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Class of 2012), studying under Kim Pensyl, Dr. Scott Belck, and Rick VanMatre), while also studying classical voice (with David Adams); and his Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from the Northwestern University Bienen School of Music (Class of 2014) (studying jazz trumpet with Victor Goines and Brad Mason, and classical voice with Keven Keys).
Hailed as “superb,” (Gramaphone), Michael Jones is an tenor international soloist, collaborator, and recording artist in high demand. His vocal repertoire spans from the Baroque to contemporary genre-bending commissions. He has performed with an array of ensembles as a soloist and ensemble member, where he has “blended gorgeously” (South Florida Classical Review). Recent highlights include Jones as the tenor soloist with Philharmonia Baroque (Directors: Nicholas McGegan/Richard Egarr) for performances of J.S. Bach's Cantatas Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 and Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147a. He has also appeared as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Apollo's Fire (Director: Jeannette Sorrell), Cal Poly Bach Festival, Long Beach Symphony, Piffaro, and Choral Arts Philadelphia.
In his 2025-2026 season, Michael Jones’ notable engagements include his solo debut with Apollo's Fire, Con Gioia Bach, and appearances with Bach Collegium San Diego (Director: Ruben Valenzuela), Tesserae Baroque, The Crossing (since August 2015), Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Seraphic Fire (Director: Patrick Dupré Quigley), Harmnoium Stellarum, HEX, Alium Spiritum, Aeternum, Musica Transalpina, Spire Chamber Ensemble and internationally, with Los Angeles Master Chorale (since September 2024).
Michael Jones appears on over thirty acclaimed commercial recordings, including four GRAMMY-award-winning albums for Best Choral Performance: three with The Crossing (2018, 2022, and 2025) and one with Los Angeles Master Chorale/Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (2026) - 13 GRAMMY nominated albums (nine with The Crossing, three with Conspirare and one with LA Master Chorale). Additional recording credits include works with Resonance Collective, Vocal Arts Ensemble Cincinnati, and The Thirteen. In addition, Jones has recorded on Delos, Parma, Albany, World Library Publications, and GIA and has performed on five Downbeat Award-winning recordings.
A SAG-AFTRA vocalist, Michael Jones has also contributed to major feature films such as “How To Train Your Dragon,” “Wicked: For Good” and was featured in Macy’s Singing Tree for the Macy’s Day Parade (2022 and 2023), further showcasing his artistic range across classical and commercial stages.
In addition to his vocal career, Michael Jones also plays trumpet all over the world in multiple settings; from New Orleans style brass band to chamber orchestra to small group jazz. You name it: Michael has done it. In the fall of 2019, Michael played with critically acclaimed Youngblood Brass Band, dubbed by Dazed and Confused as "hip-hop's heaviest brass section," for their European fall tour.
When living in Philadelphia, Michael Jones regularly played with Ocean Avenue Stompers the Bachelor Boys Band for private events and weddings all along the east coast. In addition, Michael plays regularly at City Church Philadelphia and whenever one of his favorite people Taylor Kelly calls for a "soul" gig, he's there.
While living in Chicago, he appeared regularly at The Green Mill, Chicago's legendary jazz club, with Alan Gresik and the Swing Shift Orchestra. He is an original member of J-Livi and the Party, The Cincy Brass, Cincinnati's award-winning brass band and played with Four Star Brass Band. All three bands have recorded albums released in the last few years: Cincy Brass released "Ain't Nuttin' Louder" in 2011, Four Star released "Get Your Four Star On" in 2015, J-Livi and the Party released "Come and Share my Life" in 2016, and in 2019, released "Mixtape.". During his time at Northwestern, he was fortunate to co-found a hip hop group called The Syndicate that played around Chicago and Evanston. Their most notable performance was Dillo Day 2015.
In the summer of 2013, Michael Jones auditioned and won the "jazz" trumpet chair in the Disneyland All-American College Band. While in the band, he played five sets a day at Disneyland in Anaheim where he performed with Bob Mintzer, Gordon Goodwin, Wycliffe Gordon, Peter Erskine, Jiggs Whigham, John Clayton, Gregg Field, Steve Houghton, Sal Lozano and Rex Richardson. |
