Profile for Jonathan Borja
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Jonathan Borja
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Associate Professor
Music
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Jonathan Borja Pronouns: He/Him/His
Associate Professor
Music
Specialty area(s)
Flute, Music History
Brief biography
Dr. Borja holds three graduate degrees from the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance (Doctor of Musical Arts in Flute Performance, Master of Music in Flute Performance, a Master of Music in Musicology) and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Principia College. Before coming to the United States, he studied at the National Conservatory of Music in his native Mexico City. His teachers and mentors include Marie Jureit-Beamish, Mary Posses, María Esther García, William Everett, and Andrew Granade. As an orchestral musician, he is a member of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Borja has performed throughout the United States and Mexico and has appeared in festivals devoted to the music of J.S. Bach, George Crumb, Gustav Mahler, Olivier Messiaen, and Elliott Carter. He has performed at Steinway Hall, Helzberg Hall, Powell Symphony Hall, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Palacio de Bellas Artes (Sala Ponce), the National University of Mexico (Facultad de Música, UNAM), the National Conservatory in Mexico City, the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Singapore, and at the National Flute Association Convention (2017, 2018, 2020, 2021), the College Music Society National Conference (St. Louis, 2014; Rochester, NY, 2021) and International Conference (Belgium, 2019). His continued advocacy for the music of our time has led him to collaborate with some of today’s finest composers, including Chen Yi and Zhou Long, George Crumb, Libby Larsen, Yehudi Wyner, Narong Prangcharoen, and Samuel Zyman.
Current courses at UWL
MUS 205: Global Cultures in Music
MUS 264: History of Western Music I (Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque)
MUS 364: History of Western Music II (Classic and Romantic)
MUS 365: History of Western Music III (XX and XXI Centuries) (Writing Emphasis)
Applied Flute
Woodwind Quintet
Dr. Borja is a Writing Emphasis Certified Instructor
Education
Doctor of Musical Arts, Flute Performance, 2010, Conservatory of Music and Dance, UMKC.
Master of Music, Music History and Literature, 2010, Conservatory of Music and Dance, UMKC.
Master of Music, Flute Performance, 2005, Conservatory of Music and Dance, UMKC.
Bachelor of Arts (Music), 2002, Honors, Principia College.
Career
Teaching history
Assistant Teaching Professor of Music, Conservatory of Music and Dance, UMKC (2011-2015)
Adjunct Professor of Music, Blue River Community College (2010-2011)
Adjunct Professor of Music, Park University (2011)
Adjunct Professor of Music, University of Central Missouri (2010)
Professional history
La Crosse Symphony Orchestra: Second Flute (2019-present); Acting Principal Flute (2021-2022)
Chair of the Frances Blaisdell Scholarship, National Flute Association (2016-2021)
Colorado MahlerFest: Principal Flute (2018); Assistant Principal Flute (2016); Second Flute (2009-2016)
Topeka Symphony Orchestra: Second Flute (2010-2015)
Mu Phi Epsilon, member since 2015
National Flute Association, member since 2000
College Music Society, member since 2008
Research and publishing
PERFORMANCES
2024
Conference Performance. IX Festival de Música Mexicana. Monterrey, Mexico. 10/31.
Conference Performance. National Flute Association Convention. San Antonio, TX. 8/4.
Soloist. National Conservatory of Music Wind Ensemble, Mexico City, Mexico. 5/28.
Soloist. University of Minnesota Duluth Wind Ensemble. 4/14.
Soloist. CBDNA Southwest Region Conference. UMKC Wind Symphony. 3/1.
2023
Soloist. Washington State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble. 11/29.
Soloist. UTRGV Wind Orchestra. 11/20-21.
Soloist. Virginia Commonwealth University Wind Ensemble. 11/15.
Soloist. UWL Wind Ensemble. 11/10.
Guest Artist. Utah Flute Association. 11/5.
Soloist. Utah State University Wind Orchestra. 11/4.
Soloist. La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. 10/21.
Guest Artist. University of Northern Iowa Flute Day. 10/15.
Soloist with University of Central Florida Wind Ensemble, Dr. Scott Lubaroff, conductor. 10/12.
Soloist with Kansas State University Wind Ensemble, Dr. Frank Tracz, conductor. 10/2.
Soloist with Missouri State University Symphony. Dr. Christopher Kelts, conductor. 9/24.
Soloist with UMKC Wind Ensemble. Dr. Joseph Parisi, conductor. 9/21.
Soloist with UWL Wind Ensemble. Dr. Tammy Fisher, conductor. 4/30.
Jury Member, Concurso Nacional de Flauta "Ruben Islas," UNAM, Mexico City, 1/23-25.
2022
Faculty Recital. UW-La Crosse, 10/18.
Guest Artist Recital. University of Wisconsin - Superior, 9/13.
Conference Performance. National Flute Association Convention, Chicago, IL, 8/14.
Guest Artist Recital. Museo José Luis Cuevas, Mexico City, 7/17.
Guest Artist Recital. Palacio de Bellas Artes, Sala Manuel M. Ponce, Mexico City, 7/15.
Guest Artist Recital. University of Texas- Rio Grande Valley, 3/27.
Guest Artist Recital. Conjunto Cultural Ollin Yoliztli, Mexico City, 3/16.
Guest Artist Recital. University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, 2/28.
2021
Guest Artist. Jureit Musicales. Stuart, FL. 11/21/21.
Faculty Recital. Music from Mexico. Hispanic Heritage Month Recital. UW-L, 9/19/21.
Conference Performance. National Flute Association Convention, online. 08/14/21.
Guest Artist. Bonfire Chamber Music Series, Grand Rapids, MN, 07/21/21.
Soloist. La Crosse Concert Band, 6/23.
Soloist. UWL Orchestra, 5/2 (virtual).
Faculty Recital, UW-L, 3/7 (virtual)
2020
Faculty Recital. Hispanic Heritage Month (online), UWL, 10/15/20
Guest Artist Recital. Viterbo University (online), La Crosse, WI, 9/18/20
Guest Artist Recital. Jureit Musicales (online). Stuart, FL, 7/5/20
Creative Imperatives. The Music of Ingrid Stölzel. UWL, 3/3/20
Soloist. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. UWL, 2/16/20
Guest Artist Recital. Viterbo University, 1/19/20
Master Classes
Washington State University, 11/27/23.
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 11/19/23.
Utah Flute Association, 11/4/23.
Utah State University, 11/02/23.
University of Northern Iowa, 10/15/23.
University of Central Florida, 10/11/23.
Missouri State University, 9/25/23.
UMKC Conservatory, 9/22/23.
University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley, 3/26/22.
Conjunto Cultural Ollin Yoliztli, Mexico City, 3/14-16/22.
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, 2/28/22.
National Conservatory of Music, Mexico, 5/20-5/24/19; 11/25-28/19.
Washington State University, 4/16/18
National Conservatory of Music, Mexico, 3/12-16/18
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, 8/21/17
University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, 4/9/17
National Conservatory of Music, Mexico, 1/16-20/17
National Conservatory of Music, Mexico, 6/27-30/16
George Fox University, 1/23/16
Publications, Guest Lectures, and Recordings
Solo Recording. Flute Music from Mexico. New York: Albany Records, July 1, 2023.
Chamber Music Recording. Crossroads Quartet. Pullman: WSU Recordings, April 10, 2023.
Trade Magazine Article. “'Amatzinac' José Pablo Moncayo's Elusive Jewel.” The Flutist Quarterly, Vol. 47, No. 1, Fall 2021. National Flute Association, USA.
Conference Presentation. "Amatzinac: José Pablo Moncayo's Elusive Jewel." College Music Society National Conference, Rochester, NY. 10/7/21.
Trade Magazine Article. “Rubén Islas: Mexico’s Flute Teacher.” The Flutist Quarterly, Vol. 46, No. 3, Spring 2021. National Flute Association, USA.
Guest Artist. Samuel Zyman: Un mexicano en Nueva York (Recording). Mexico City: Urtext Digital Classics, May 4, 2021.
Solo Recording. Zyman: Chamber Works for Flute. New York: Albany Records, April 1, 2020.
Conference Presentation. "Exploring a Personal Style in a Global Society Through the Flute Works of Samuel Zyman." College Music Society International Conference. Brussels, Belgium. July 12, 2019.
Conference Presentation. "Cultural Syncretism: The Sounds and Rhythms in the Flute Music of Samuel Zyman." North Central Council of Latin Americanists. Madison, WI. October 6, 2017
Trade Magazine Article. "Cultural Syncretism: The Sounds and Rhythms in the Flute Music of Samuel Zyman." The Flutist Quarterly, Vol. 42, No. 4, Summer 2017. National Flute Association, USA.
Guest Lecture. "Cultural Syncretism: The Sounds and Rhythms in the Flute Music of Samuel Zyman." UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. April 7, 2017
Solo Recording. Libby Larsen: Aubade for solo flute. Minneapolis, MN. August 18, 2016
Book Review: Robin Wallace's 'Take Note.' College Music Symposium. No. 56, January 21, 2016.
Encyclopedic article: “Nirvana.” The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World. Santa Barbara, California, ABC-Clio. (November, 2015).
Encyclopedic article: “Jackson 5.” The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World. Santa Barbara, California, ABC-Clio. (November, 2015).
Trade Magazine Article. "Mythology and Humor: The Flute Works of Thorkell Sigurbjörnsson" The Flutist Quarterly, No. 41, No. 1, Fall 2015. National Flute Association, USA.
Solo Recording. Short Stories for Flute and Piano: The Flute Music of Thorkell Sigurbjornsson. Icelandic Music Information Centre (Reykjavik: Bad Taste Records Smekkleysa), January, 2015.
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