Jonathan Villegas
New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra Bridge Ensemble Conductor
Jonathan Villegas is a Mexican-American conductor, cellist, educator, and multidisciplinary artist committed to using music as a catalyst for connection, access, and community impact. Their work centers on engaging diverse audiences and cultivating meaningful artistic experiences that empower the next generation of musicians and leaders.
Villegas currently serves as Wind Ensemble Director for the Music Advancement Program at The Juilliard School and Bridge Ensemble Conductor for the New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra. They also serve as Wind Ensembles Director with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids program, and hold additional teaching appointments such as the Wind Ensemble Director at the Special Music School High School at the Kaufman Music Center and Assistant Band Director at Riverdale Country School, working with young musicians across a wide range of educational and community-based settings.
After several years in Portland, Oregon, where they served as Assistant Conductor for the Portland State University Orchestra, Bands, and Opera, Villegas now resides in New York City. They recently earned a Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where they studied with Harlan Parker as an Artistic Excellence Scholar.
Drawing on their background as a cellist and educator, Villegas brings a collaborative and versatile approach to the podium, with experience spanning youth orchestra, wind ensembles, and collegiate programs. Their work reflects a deep commitment to artistic excellence, education, and the transformative power of music across disciplines and diverse communities.