Born near Cleveland, Ohio in 1981, Jonathan Sokol was introduced to music at a young age. The son of two music educators, he began piano lessons at the age of six and, at the age of nine, took up the trombone. Though most of his musical childhood was spent with these two instruments, Sokol became enamored with the world of composition in his high school years.
Born near Cleveland, Ohio in 1981, Jonathan Sokol was introduced to music at a young age. The son of two music educators, he began piano lessons at the age of six and, at the age of nine, took up the trombone. Though most of his musical childhood was spent with these two instruments, Sokol became enamored with the world of composition in his high school years.
Two scholarships encouraged Sokol to further his studies in composition at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, where he received his Bachelor of Music Degree and was a student of the College's composer-in-residence, Loris Chobanian. During that period, Sokol had two performances by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony on their Young and Emerging Composers Series (2001 and 2004). Equally dividing his focus between composition and performance, Sokol also continued his lessons in piano and trombone at B-W, later making time to study the organ and the violin.
He is currently midway through the Masters program at New England Conservatory where he studies with Michael Gandolfi.