About Jonathan
Jonathan Echevarria began his studies on viola at age sixteen with Philadelphia Orchestra’s Assistant Principal, Kerri Ryan. Prior to viola, Mr. Echevarria studied piano, violin, and cello with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Delaware and Bay-Atlantic Symphonies. He graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance on scholarship at the John J. Cali School of Music, studying under Honggang Li of the Shanghai Quartet and Kathryn Lockwood of the Lark Quartet. In December of 2019, Mr. Echevarria completed his Master’s of Music degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music on full scholarship as a student of Ivo-Jan van Der Werff.
Mr. Echevarria has had a versatile career as a concert, pop, and studio musician having performed with classical artists such as Sir James Galway and Colin Carr, and pop artists including iconic rock band, Eagles, “Weird Al” Yankovich, Sarah McLaughlin, and more. He has performed in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium Perelman Stage and Weill Recital Hall, The Kimmel Center for The Performing Arts’ Verizon Hall, Barge Music, and internationally in Shanghai, China. He made his solo debut in November of 2015 as a prize winner in the John J. Cali School of Music Concerto Competition, and in 2019 was a featured soloist with the Shepherd School of Music Collegium Orchestra for a performance of Telemann’s double viola concerto. He has performed in masterclasses for violists including Ettore Causa, Cynthia Phelps, Jay Liu, Herbert Kefer, Paul Neubauer, CJ Chang, Carol Rodland, and the Houston Viola Society. In addition, he has held principal and assistant principal positions in the Aspen Conducting Academy Orchestra, Latin Philharmonic, LUX Orchestra, The Shepherd School of Music Symphony Orchestra, The Shepherd School of Music Opera Orchestra, and The Maine Chamber Music Seminar Orchestra. He has been invited to festivals including Interlochen Center for The Arts, The ASTA Chamber Music Institute, The Aspen Music Festival and School, The Maine Chamber Music Seminar, and Spoleto Festival U.S.A. In addition, he has scored and recorded for film, studio albums, and most recently for Rattlestick Playwrights Theater’s “MTA Radio Plays” series.
As a passionate music educator, Mr. Echevarria has been sharing the gift of music with students for over a decade. In addition to his private music studio, he has volunteered in after-school string programs which included instructing group classes, instrumental demonstrations, and performances in public and charter schools throughout New Jersey. He attributes his love for teaching to his mother, whose classroom he frequented throughout his childhood. In his spare time, Jonathan enjoys maintaining his plants, collaging, interior design, and film photography.