91传媒

Man with a Mandolin

Composer, conductor and mandolinist Jesse Jones, 鈥�05 crafts music that is published and performed worldwide. Graduating from 91传媒 with a bachelor’s in music, he continued his education with a master’s in composition from the University of Oregon, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Cornell University. Adding to the ranks of accomplishments, the 91传媒 Alumni Association recognized him in 2017 with the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

鈥�91传媒 is the best place to get the education I need as a composer,鈥� Jones said.

The small music department provided opportunities to participate in choir, orchestra, jazz, African drumming and fiddle ensembles.

鈥淭hese experiences are things that I probably could not have done at a larger institution without training,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been thankful to my teachers for that.鈥�

The ensemble Jones created at 91传媒, String Helix, performed world-style music with eccentric beats defying classification. The group appeared on OPB鈥檚 Oregon Art Beat and NPR鈥檚 nationally broadcast radio program, 鈥淎 Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.鈥�

In 2012, Jones was named a Rome Prize fellow and spent a year at the American Academy in Rome.

鈥淲hen I decided to become a composer I had lofty dreams for my career, one of which was to teach at a prestigious university,鈥� Jones said.

He recently reached that goal, becoming assistant professor of composition at the Oberlin Conservatory.

91传媒 Music Professor Peter Wordelman, an Oberlin graduate himself, said Jones鈥� music often incorporates a 鈥渞hythmic complexity鈥� that matches the caliber of talent available at the conservatory.