USA Projects

Composition, performance, video Since moving to Santa Fe from New York City in 2001, Jonas has worked primarily as a composer and video artist, receiving commissions for composition and large scale intermedia projects in Santa Fe, the US and Europe. He's written numerous commissions for new music ensembles, soundtracks, new circus, documentaries, and installations. Beginning in 2001, his commissions have consistently grown in scope and, needing a "home" for these projects, Jonas and partner Molly Sturges built the non-profit, Littleglobe in 2005. With Littleglobe's help, they've created works for large-scale installations, theater pieces, and multi-day festivals, as well as works partnering with communities in rural New Mexico and around the world. Among Jonas' recent commissions are pieces for the Santa Fe Opera, "IN SITU" performances for SITE Santa Fe biennials and live soundtracks for silent films. He has written pieces for the Library of Congress Film Program, the New Mexico Film Office, and the Mexican Museum of Anthropology (Mexico City), as well as works in collaborative community for the European Union Festival of Culture (Cork, Ireland). Jonas is now at work on a number of new projects including a multiple year intermedia and music piece GARDEN, concerts and recordings with his Santa Fe/NYC ensembles Rrake and Sun Spits Cherries and the next iteration of the Jonas/Sturges IN SITU site-based compositions. New York City 1991-2001 While based in NYC, the 1990s saw Jonas working internationally. He recorded 25 albums and toured cities worldwide as a performer, guest conductor, and composer with jazz and experimental music ensembles led by Anthony Braxton, Cecil Taylor, Butch Morris, William Parker, the Brooklyn Sax Quartet and his own ensemble, Sun Spits Cherries.

Portrait photo courtesy Michelle Vest

Video still from NIGHT, music and intermedia performance piece, 2005–ongoing; photo courtesy Chris Jonas