Jonathan Saraga

Trumpeter and composer Jonathan Saraga was born and raised in Manhattan NYC. He is a graduate of Wagner Middle School, F.H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art, and SUNY Purchase, with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance. Jonathan is the winner of the 2007 International Trumpet Guild Jazz Solo Competition, and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree at Rutgers. Jonathan's teachers have been John Lambert, William Dunn, Jim Rotondi, and Scott Wendholt. He has also been mentored by Steve Wilson, Jon Gordon, Hal Galper, Jimmy Greene, Ray Vega, Todd Coolman, Charles Blenzig, and many others. Jonathan played second and lead trumpet with the Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra, the All City Jazz Orchestra, the New York Youth Jazz Band Classic, the Purchase Latin Jazz Orchestra, and the Purchase Jazz Orchestra. He has performed with Chris Rogers, John Fedchock, Jimmy Greene, Ray Vega,and Randy Brecker at venues such as Birdland, Dizzy's Club Coca-cola, and the Performing Arts Center at Purchase college. Jonathan plays with the Danny Rivera Big Band, Captain Coconut, and his own groups at NYC venues such as Smalls, Cleopatra's Needle, the Bitter End, the Annex, and the Bowery Poetry Club.