Jonathan Ragonese is a native of Harrisburg, PA. Beginning his musical training at 5, he started on the piano, and then later added the alto saxophone. In high school he was urged to pick up the tenor. It was in High School that his musical career took off when he began playing at weekly jam sessions around Harrisburg. Mentors include Tim Warfield Jr., Steve Rudolph, Ronnie Waters, and Jimmy Wood. Jonathan has been an active member of the Central Pennsylvania Friends Of Jazz Board, a resident of University of the Arts Summer Institute, been a member of the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz Youth Band under the direction of Mr. Ronnie Waters, and has been awarded outstanding soloist at many competitions. In the fall of 2006 he was selected to be the first chair tenor saxophonist in the MENC’s All Eastern Jazz Ensemble and the Philadelphia Grammy Band. Jonathan was chosen as the Artistic Student Representative to perform at Governor Rendell’s 2007 Inaugural Gala in an All-star performance with Bon Jovi, Jill Scott, and Robert Randolph and the Family Band. He was also selected as the first tenor saxophonist in the 2007 Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensemble. He has performed and soloed on stage with Bobby Watson, Tim Warfield Jr., Ira Sullivan, Joe Hunt, John Riley, Jay Anderson, Dick Oatts, Garry Dial, Francois Moutin, Marko Marcinko, Bill Goodwin, Bob Mover, Dominick Feranacci, Hendrik Meurkens, Steve Rudolph, Cedric Lawson and Phil Haynes. Jonathan is currently a senior in High School in Central Pennsylvania, and studies with Susan Loy, as well as other saxophonists in Philadelphia and New York.

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