Percussionist/Composer/Arranger, Jonathan Ovalle, is the currently the Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Toledo. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, where he studied with Michael Udow, Julie Spencer, Michael Gould, Gerald Cleaver, and Salvatore Rabbio. He was formerly the Percussion Coordinator for the Plymouth Canton Educational Park in Canton, MI from 2001-2006.
As a drum set artist/percussionist, he is very active in the Detroit-area jazz/Latin music scene most recently as the timbalero in the 12-piece, Detroit-based Salsa band - Groupo Salvaje. He has also been honored as a former Regional Finalist in the Guitar Center Drum-Off (2001, 2002.) As a jazz vibist and conguero, he has collaborated with drummer/composer Roland Vazquez and his ensemble and was an original member of the Ann Arbor Latin Jazz quintet - Los Gatos. When not collaborating with other artists, he can be heard with his Afro-Cuban jazz quartet, Rumbaclave, as well as fronting the J.O. Trio, a pop/rock group featuring him on piano and vocals as a singer-songwriter.
As a concert percussionist and chamber musician, he has recently been heard in concert with New Music Detroit and his symphonic experience includes time as a member of the Sarasota Opera Orchestra as well as participation in number of world premieres, with appearances at PASIC and the International Convention of Computer Music.
An accomplished arranger and composer, he has served as both a wind and percussion arranger and design consultant for a number of competitive marching bands and indoor drumline ensembles in Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and New York most recently as the pit/battery arranger for REDLINE Percussion (WGI Independent World Class) in their inaugural season in 2008.
He is currently the arranger for the Plymouth Canton Winter Drumline (WGI Scholastic World Class) and the Novi High School Winter Drumline (WGI Scholastic Open Class) and his concert music is published by jw3 publications.
He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, The American Composers Forum, and BMI and is an Artist/Endorser with Pearl Drums, Remo Inc., and Innovative Percussion.