Concert guitarist Jonathan Trotta has performed throughout the United States and the New York metropolitan tri-state area as a soloist as well as an accompanist in the Spanish and Latin American music and dance ensemble “Ida y Vuelta” and the chamber music ensemble “Musicora.” His performance credits include an appearance as a featured guest on Boston TV56's “De Todo un Poco,” Maine Public Broadcasting radio show, “Music du Jour,” a private benefit concert for Academy Award Actress Helen Hayes; and a duet performance with concert guitarist, Benjamin Verdery. He has also performed Antonio Vivaldi’s “Concerto in D major” with the Rockland Symphony Orchestra.

Jonathan performed in master classes with classical guitarists Christopher Parkening, Sharon Isbin, and Manuel Barrueco. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in guitar performance and composition from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music. During this time, Jonathan studied classical guitar with Benjamin Verdery and David Starobin, composition with Juilliard teacher Andrew Thomas, Baroque performance practice with Anthony Newman, and conducting with David Milnes. After college, he studied traditional flamenco guitar with Dennis Koster and Basilio Georges.

Besides his remote private teaching studio, he is head of the guitar department at the Rockland Conservatory of Music in Pearl River, NY, on the faculty of the Thurnauer School of Music in Tenafly, NJ, the Hoff-Barthelson Music School in Scarsdale, NY, The American River College in Sacramento, CA, and St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY.

 

He has also taught at the Guitar Study Center at the New School for Social Research and the American Institute of Guitar in New York, NY. Jonathan has trained in the Suzuki Method (a method of teaching young children) with Frank Longay, Seth Himmelhoch, Andrea Cannon, and MaryLou Roberts. Many of his students have won music competitions and have performed in master classes with acclaimed classical guitarists, notably David Leisner, Newman and Oltman duo, Nicholas Goluses, Joao Luis, Benjamin Verdery, Ana Vidovic, and Grammy Award winners, Sharon Isbin, William Kannengiser, Berta Rojas, and Jason Vieaux. His students have attended reputable music colleges, such as Juilliard (pre-college division), Peabody Conservatory of Music, SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music, and Yale School of Music. Jonathan’s first Suzuki student, Ansel Bobrow, has performed at Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, was accepted into the New York Chamber Music Program in New York, NY, and won first prize in the National High School Classical Guitar Competition.