Jon J Harmon

BM Performance - Instrumental Conducting
BM Performance - Composition
Class of 2008

Now a senior at the Conservatory of Music at Chapman University, Jon began his musical training at the age of 8 learning trumpet and singing in a boy's choir. He moved from trumpet to French Horn where he has studied under Brian Drake, Jenny Kim, and Russell Dicey. In high school, Jon was a member of the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Chapman University Professor Emeritus John Koshak performing at the Orange County Performing Arts Center as well as at several venues in Italy and Austria.

In 2002 Jon spent a summer at the Berklee School of Music's "Berklee in LA" Summer program studying guitar. It was during this program that Jon's interest in composition began to blossom.  His formal composition study began in 2004 and he has studied privately with Shaun Naidoo and Jeffrey Holmes.  As an undergraduate composer he has been fortunate to have had a number of works recorded by members of the Chapman Chamber Orchestra.

Jon's interest in conducting grew in 2004 while conducting his own works in student composition recitals. In 2006 he began studying privately with Daniel Alfred Wachs and has also worked with John Koshak and Mark Laycock. In the fall of 2006 Jon conducted the premier of Evan Meier's Two Songs of Stephen Crane with the Chapman New Music Ensemble, under the direction of Sean Heim. In the summer of 2007 Jon attended the Conductor's Institute at Bard College Conservatory of Music under the direction of Harold Farbermann. The Institute also provided the opportunity to work with Lawrence Golan 
and Apo Hsu. Also while at Bard he met composers Joan Tower and Tobias Picker, both of whom he has kept in contact with.

In addition, Jon acts as Head Librarian to the University Orchestras and Administrative Assistant to Daniel Alfred Wachs, the Director of Instrumental Studies. He has provided valuable information in the development of the Chapman Conservatory of Music's website, and oversaw a complete re-cataloguing of the Conservatory's Instrumental Music Library as well as organizing the student Orchestra Council to provide students with positions of leadership and ensure that student concerns are heard.

Jon is double majoring in Music Performance in Conducting and Music Composition and plans to pursue his conducting interests as well as interests in arts management in graduate studies.