Brian Jones
Educator/Composer/Singer
About
Brian Jones is a music educator, composer, and singer based in Connecticut. He is the director of choirs at Canton Middle School and Canton High School in Canton, CT, where he teaches four choirs, two chamber ensembles, various a cappella groups, and AP Music Theory. Brian has also taught at King Philip Middle School and Hall High School, both in West Hartford, CT. As an educator, Brian works to instill a sense of passion, perseverance, and empathy in his students through music and singing. He is an active member of ACDA and CMEA, having served as Repertoire & Resource Chair, as well as Ensemble Chair for multiple festivals. He has served as music director for North Haven Congregational Church, assistant conductor of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus, guest conductor/clinician, and vocal coach for choirs, a cappella groups, and private voice students.​​​​​
As a composer, Brian's award winning music spans from advanced/professional choral music, to repertoire that is both versatile and accessible to young and emerging choirs. He has been commissioned to write music for singers of all ages and abilities. He gains his inspiration from poetry, nature, and both the beauty and struggle that comes from an ever-changing world. His compositions have been premiered by ensembles around the United States, awarded the American Prize, and have also been recorded in albums and performed at Carnegie Hall.
Brian has also made a career as a choral singer and bass soloist. He performs with professional ensembles such as Voce, directed by Mark Singleton, and Voices of Concinnity, directed by Sarah Kaufold. He has performed & collaborated with choral composers such as Morten Lauridsen, Ola Gjeilo, Eriks Esenvalds, Paul Mealor, Gwyneth Walker, and Eric Whitacre. He has sung with choirs across the United States and China, including at regional and national conferences, Carnegie Hall, and with Andrea Bocelli. Soloist highlights include Handel's Messiah with the Farmington Valley Chorale, and Bach Magnificat with the Mnemosyne Arts Collective.
Brian received his BA in Vocal Performance in 2010 and CT Teaching Certificate in 2012 from Central Connecticut State University, and his Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of Hartford's Hartt School of Music in 2019. He has studied voice with Maxim Ivanov, Craig Hart, Joanne Scattergood, and Jack Pott, and studied conducting both formally and informally with Dr. Pam Perry, Dr. Peter Bagley, and Dr. Edward Bolkovac.