Born in Celle, Germany, Jon has performed across four continents and has held faculty positions at major universities such as the University of Utah, Utah Valley University, and Westminster College. Regarded as an inspiring and energizing educator, Jon Paul prides himself on working with students with diverse backgrounds, experiences, cultures, and abilities.
His teachers and mentors include Eliot Fisk, Oscar Ghiglia, John Gibbons, Tom Johnson, Adam Holzman, and Bruce Holzman. Jon holds degrees in Classical Guitar Performance from The University of Texas at Austin (B.M.), New England Conservatory (M.M.), and Florida State University (D.M.A).
An acclaimed recitalist and chamber musician, Jon has performed with the Utah Opera, The Woodlands Symphony, Park City Chamber Music Festival, violinist Donna Fairbanks. He tours annually throughout the United States and Europe. Jon was a US representative at the ICPNA Guitar Festival in Lima, Peru. He served as a guest artist at the University of Wittenberg-Halle in Leipzig, Germany. Jon has taught workshops and masterclasses at Berklee College of Music, Bridgewater State College, Connecticut Guitar Society, Aguado Concert Series, Loudoun County Public Schools, Troy State University, Brigham Young University, University of Utah, and Utah Valley University.
From 2013 to 2017, Jon served as President of Utah Classical Guitar, which brings world-class classical guitar concerts, outreach, and music education to the Utah community.
Jon and his wife, dance artist Alexandra Bradshaw Yerby are duo ‘7&1,’ and create original work featuring contemporary dance with live guitar.