Jon Oxford is a Florida native who works as a performer, educator, composer, group leader, and copyist. His experiences span more than 20 years.
He spent eight years (2003-2011)with the U.S. Army Band where he was stationed at Sagamihara, Japan, and with the NATO Jazz Orchestra (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium. During this time Jon wrote for and led a variety of groups across east Asia and Europe; performing with rock groups, jazz combos, fusion groups, latin bands, big bands, marching bands, concert/symphonic bands, string orchestras, and pit orchestras.
After his time with the military he returned to Florida and began his collegiate musical training at Eastern Florida State College. He earned a BM in Jazz Performance from the University of Central Florida, and an MM in Jazz Performance from the University of South Florida. Jon had a secondary focus on composition while in school, studying under Per Danielsson at UCF and Grammy nominated composer Chuck Owen at USF. He also directed a variety of jazz ensembles, assisted in teaching jazz history and was a featured composer on the USF Jazz Studies performance tour through Germany.
Locally, Jon maintains a regular freelance performance schedule across peninsular Florida. He can heard performing regularly with Chief Cherry, The American Sirens, Michael Evans, and a variety of touring Broadway musicals (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical; Motown The Musical; Matilda; Smokey Joe's Cafe; etc.). He is regularly called for reading shows to augment a slew of touring acts as they pass through Florida as well (Chuck Owen's Jazz Surge, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Il Divo, Chis Mann, Bernadette Peters, Donny Most Big Band, Craig Turley Orchestras, etc).
As an educator Jon has had some amazing opportunities to participate in the musical lives of many students. Since 2017 he has taught Jazz Guitar and Audio with Eastern Florida State College, with a two year stint as the Interim Director of Instrumental Activities from 2020-2022. He is also an adjunct with Stetson University, directing their Jazz Band and teaching music history courses with them. Jon is also a guest conductor and clinician with many of Brevard's Public Schools.
Throughout this time he has kept a regular studio teaching students performance on guitar, piano, bass, and ukulele; as well as composition, music theory, and improvisation. He is regularly commissioned as a composer, arranger and copyist for numerous projects from musicals to big bands to chamber ensembles.
Jon has been married to his high school love, April, since 2003 and has three children, all adopted through Florida's foster system. He loves the writings of Charles Dickens, the French language, baking bread, and RPG video games.
Instrument(s): Guitar, Piano, Ukelele, Bass, Voice
Levels: Beginner to Advanced/Professional
Genres: Jazz, Rock, Funk, Latin/Afro-Cuban, Gospel and Contemporary Christian, Broadway
Your Primary Focus/technique: Fundamental understanding of musical structures and techniques that are applied universally, irrespective of genre. Mastery is the goal - playing what you intended to play.
