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The American lyric tenor and occasional harpsichordist, Jeffrey Jones-Ragona, studied music at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He obtained his Doctor of Musical Arts from The University of Texas at Austin (2006). He is the 2003 recipient of the Austin Circle of Theatre’s B. Iden Payne Award for Outstanding Musical Direction of Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera The Pirates of Penzance.
Jeffrey Jones-Ragona is an active musician since 1990. He has performed in recitals, musical theatre and symphony concerts across North America and in several cities in Brazil. Primarily a singer of Baroque and Classical repertoire, he has also made forays into art song, folk music, and contemporary literature as well. He has been singer, assistant conductor, section leader in Santa Fe Desert Chorale (1990-1996; Chorus Master (interim) at Austin Opera (December 2000-January 2001); singer at Oregon Bach Festival (2007-2013); Singer in Austin Baroque Orchestra (soloist and section singer for Historical Performance ensemble); Music director of Gilbert & Sullivan Austin (since 1994); singer in Texas Early Music Project (TEMP, since 1999); Singer, Harpsichordist, Conductor of La Follia Austin Baroque (since 2012). He has also perfomed with the Austin Symphony, Des Moines Symphony, and the Dallas Wind Ensemble, and the Austin Chamber Ensemble among many others.
Jeffrey Jones-Ragona has performed with Texas Early Music Project (TEMP) for several seasons since 1999 and collaborated with Danny Johnson on a number of other performances and the recording, “Northern Lights.” In 2005, he and Maestro Johnson collaborated to stage the first Austin-area performance of the complete Monteverdi 1610 Vespers, combining the vocal forces of TEMP and the St. Mary Cathedral Schola Cantorum with the instrumental forces of TEMP and The Whole Noyse, a Renaissance wind-band based in San Francisco. This performance was recognized by the Austin Critic’s Table as the Outstanding Choral Concert of 2005-2006.
Jeffrey Jones-Ragona served for 23 years as the Artistic Director of the Capital City Men’s Chorus (retired in 2018). He also serves as the Director of Music at the Cathedral of Saint Mary in Austin, Texas (since August 1993), and as Conductor of the Makheilah at Congregation Beth Israel. He has taught on the music faculties of Drake University (1991-1993), St. Edward’s University (1997-2002), and Southwestern University (2002-2004).
Jeffrey Jones-Ragona is featured as a performer on nearly a dozen commercial recordings, under various labels including Naxos and several independent studios. In addition to his solo performing schedule he researches music of the middle and late 18th century for modern publication, primarily the work of Niccolo Jommelli. In 2014, he led the 21st c premiere of Jommelli’s Requiem Mass in E-flat as part of the Austin Baroque Festival and is working toward a performing edition of this once famous, now forgotten masterpiece.
Dr. Jones-Ragona currently resides in Austin, Texas, USA. |
