Jonathan West is a Colorado based music educator. While growing up in Colorado Springs, Jonathan began playing the cello with the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony Association and the horn in his public school program.

While studying for a Bachelor of Music Education degree at The University of Northern Colorado, Jonathan took cello lessons from Gal Faganel. As a member of the University Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Russel Guyver, Jonathan played for soloists such as Rachel Barton Pine, Peter Stumpf, and Robert deMaine. Jonathan also regularly performed in chamber recitals and joined the Campus String Orchestra on viola.

At the outset of his teaching career, Jonathan served as teaching assistant, under Dr. Lindsay Fulcher, during the inaugural years of the UNC String Project, a weekly after-school program for beginning string students in the fourth and fifth grade. This program helped solidify Jonathan’s love for teaching. He also ran a small private lesson studio with cellists and violists. As a young conductor, Jonathan was selected for the Colorado Music Educator Association 2019 Conducting Clinic and participated in the master class with Larry Livingston. Jonathan has guest conducted for the Parker Performing Arts School and for the Avanti Music Academy. Jonathan is a member of ASTA, CMEA, and NAFME.

Jonathan is in his third year as Director of Orchestras at Creighton Middle School and Lakewood Area Elementary Schools teaching grades 5 through 8.