Cello Museum team member, cellist, and educator, Jonathan Simmons, is currently pursuing a DMA at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro (UNCG) studying with Dr. Alex Ezerman. At UNCG he serves as the cellist of the graduate string quartet and as principal cellist in the UNCG Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist, he has performed with orchestras in Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina including in the Greenville, SC, Peace Center, and Powell Hall at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Jonathan was the second prize winner in the Tennessee Cello Workshop Competition and was also the winner of the 45th Annual Ruth Kern Young Artists Concerto Competition in Atlanta. He frequently performs at non-traditional venues including the Coca-Cola Space Science Center and the Bo Bartlett Center and for students of all ages.

Jonathan has performed with the Greenville Symphony, the Greensboro Symphony, the Columbus (GA) Symphony, the LaGrange Symphony, and the Albany Symphony. He has collaborated in recital with such musicians as pianist Alexey Trushechkin, first prize winner of the 2019 Liszt International Piano Competition, and renowned cello soloist Wendy Warner. As a passionate teacher, Jonathan is the author of the educational Cello Life Blog and has experience teaching live and online lessons to students as far away as Australia. To connect with Jonathan, visit his website