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Jonathan Ovalle (b.1976) is a Mexican-American drummer/percussionist who finds joy in many different modes of music-making, crossing genres as a performer, composer, and improviser. He has performed and presented masterclasses in Europe, Asia, Canada, and in 20 states across the U.S.
His performance experience features work as a contemporary chamber musician (Ensemble Duniya, Percunova Percussion Duo, New Music Detroit), as a jazz and Afro-Cuban drummer/percussionist (Roland Vazquez, Pepe Espinosa, Jon Hendricks, Vic Juris, Tim Whalen, Bobby Streng), and as an orchestral musician (Sarasota Opera, Detroit Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic), has performed at the Thailand Brass and Percussion Conference, Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Green Box Arts Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, Jazz Educators Network Convention, North American Saxophone Alliance, The Midwest Clinic, as well as numerous solo performances. Creatively inspired by architecture, design, and visual art, additional musical interests include: electronic music production, songwriting, and music for film.
A dedicated teacher, former students have pursued studies at the Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory, Boston University, Northwestern University, Peabody Conservatory, Mannes College of Music, University of Southern California, among others, and hold a variety of professional positions as university teachers, orchestra and military band musicians, freelance musicians, and secondary educators. He currently serves on the International Artistic Advisory Board of Musikal Husky Publications in Graz, Austria and is a resident faculty member of the International Percussion Institute, a summer percussion performance and research seminar held annually in Aberdeen, Scotland.
