Jonathan Salcedo is an award-winning trombonist and composer based out of Nashville. Having received a degree from Vanderbilt University, he had the opportunity to work with many incredible mentors such as Jeremy Wilson, Nick Laufer, Jeff Coffin, Marc Widenhofer, and Ryan Middagh. His previous principal teachers include Dr. Bradley Edwards, Steve McAllister, Leslie Pozo, and Shea Marshall, with whom he studied piano and harmony. He has also taken lessons with world-renowned jazz trombonist, Bob McChesney.
As a trombonist, he has competed in many high level competitions, winning Division 1 of the American Trombone Workshop Solo Competition as well as the Robert Marsteller Competition. In 2023 he was named one of Yamaha’s Young Performing Artists. A versatile musician, Jonathan is an active performing and recording musician in the Nashville area. His trombone playing can be heard in anything from games like Destiny 2 and Apex:Legends, to Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football. He is also frequently performing in venues like the Ryman Auditorium, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and Ocean Way Studio Nashville. Similarly, he plays with a wide variety of groups such as the Nashville Symphony, to even touring with Zach Williams.
Being a composer as well, Jonathan has been fortunate to have many incredible ensembles perform his music. His music is often performed by the Downbeat Award Winning Blair Big Band, and Commercial Break, an award-winning combo under the direction of Jeff Coffin, as well as the Vanderbilt Trombone Ensemble and Jeremy Wilson. Most recently, he won the 2022 Downbeat Award for Small Group Composition, and his work, “Aeonic Spirits”, was premiered in Prague at the Prague Spring International Music Competition.
He has also attended various summer music festivals such as the Brevard Music Festival, Eastern Music Festival, the NYO programs, and the Interlochen Arts Camp. Through these programs he had the opportunity to work closely and study with some incredible musicians like Michael Dease, Gerry Pagano, Mark Lusk, Randy Campora, and Rodney Whitaker. Along with that, he has had the privilege of performing in orchestras under the batons of conductors such as Sir Antonio Pappano, Gerard Schwarz, and Giancarlo Guerrero.
When he's not doing music, Jonathan spends his time cooking and baking in the kitchen, an early passion that he maintains to this day.