Jonathan E. Willis is currently the Director of Bands at Mount Union College, where duties include directing the “Purple Raider” Marching Band, the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, as well as teaching courses in Conducting, Instrumental Music Methods, and Marching Band Techniques. Prior to coming to Mount Union, Willis served for the past five years as Assistant Director and then Director of Bands at Malone College in Canton, OH. Prior to serving Malone, Mr. Willis was a member of the world famous Glenn Miller Orchestra from 1998 – 2000. He toured the world with the Miller band and served as trombonist and soloist. From 1994 – 1998 Mr. Willis was the Associate Director of Bands at Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music. At YSU he served as co-director of the marching band, chief drill writer, and chief music arranger. He also taught courses in Brass Pedagogy, Marching Band Techniques, and Applied Trombone.
As a professional trombonist, Mr. Willis has performed with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, the Akron Symphony Orchestra, the Top Notes Jazz Band, the Warren Packard Concert Band, and the First Class Jazz Orchestra. He was a member of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra for 10 years under the direction of David Effron, and the Sheet and Tube Brass Quartet.
Willis holds the Bachelor of Music in Performance and the Master of Music in Performance from the Youngstown State University Dana School of Music. He furthered his education in music at the Chautauqua Institute of Music during the summer of 1983, the Eastern Music Festival during the summers of 1985-1987, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute during the summer of 1989.