Mr. Jonathan Trotta

For three decades, concert guitarist Jonathan Trotta has performed throughout the U.S. and in the local tri-state area as a soloist as well as an accompanist in the Spanish and Latin American music and dance ensemble, “Ida y Vuelta” and the chamber music ensemble, “Musicora”.  His performance credits include an appearance as a featured guest on Boston TV56 “De Todo un Poco”; Maine Public Broadcasting radio show, “Music du Jour”; a private benefit concert for Academy Award Actress, Helen Hayes; and a duet performance with concert guitarist, Benjamin Verdery.  He has also performed Antonio Vivaldi’s “Concerto in D major” with the Rockland Symphony Orchestra. 

When he was just 16 and 17, Jonathan was chosen to participate in master classes with world-renowned classical guitarists Christopher Parkening, Sharon Isbin, and Manuel Barrueco.  From 1984 to 1988, he attended SUNY Purchase, receiving a bachelor of Arts degree in guitar performance and composition.  During this time, he studied classical guitar with Benjamin Verdery and David Starobin; composition with Juilliard teacher Andrew Thomas; Baroque performance practice with Anthony Newman; and conducting with David Milnes.  After college, he studied classical and traditional flamenco guitar with Dennis Koster, Basilio Georges, and Spanish gypsy guitarist Luis Heredia.

Jonathan has taught classical and flamenco guitar for over 30 years.  Besides his private studio teaching, he is presently head of the guitar department at the Rockland Conservatory of Music in Pearl River, NY, and also on the faculty of the JCC Thurnauer School of Music in Tenafly, NJ and the Hoff-Barthelson Music School in Scarsdale, NY.  He has also taught at the Guitar Study Center at the New School for Social Research and the American Institute of Guitar in Manhattan.

Jonathan has trained in the Suzuki Method with Frank Longay, Seth Himmelhoch, Andrea Cannon, and MaryLou Roberts.  Many of his students have won music competitions; have been selected to participate in master classes with acclaimed classical guitars, notably Ana Vidovic, David Leisner, Newman and Oltman duo, Nicholas Goluses, Joao Luis, Benjamin Verdery, Berta Rojas, and Grammy Award winners, Sharon Isbin, William Kannengiser, and Jason Vieaux; and have been accepted into reputable music colleges, such as the pre-college divisions at Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Yale School of Music, and SUNY Purchase and Stony Brook music departments.

Jonathan is also an award-winning classical realist painter.  He enjoys his life as a Renaissance man, including teaching music and art, performing classical and flamenco guitar concerts, and creating drawings and paintings for commission.

**