Jonathan
Jonathan Minkoff is the Executive Producer for the annual international a cappella festival, SingStrong. Profits from SingStrong go to support the Alzheimer's Association. In 2011, SingStrong was nominated for "Favorite A cappella Event" in the A cappella Community Awards.
Since 2005, Minkoff has performed with Blue Jupiter. Performance highlights have included tours of the US and Asia, performances on nationally syndicated radio for over 10 million listeners and opening for Trey Songz, Third Eye Blind and Saturday Night Live star, Andy Samberg. Jonathan Minkoff has directed various a cappella groups since 1984. Six of those years were spent as the founder and artistic director of the full-time men's a cappella rock quartet, Blind Man's Bluff. While directing and performing with Bluff, he toured nationally, recorded two albums and multiple radio and TV commercials, shared the stage with national recording artists like All-4-One, headlined the Improv Comedy Club, sang the anthem for the World Champion Chicago Bulls and performed in front of crowds larger than 100,000. Minkoff holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (with a minor equivalent in theatre) from Northwestern University where he performed with the University's Chorus, Chorale, Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Chapel Choir. Minkoff also holds a juris doctorate, cum laude, with a concentration in intellectual property (copyrights, trademarks, entertainment law, etc.) with honors from Boston University School of Law where he received the Dean's Award for achievement in Copyright Law. Minkoff is now admitted to practice in both New York and Massachusetts. Minkoff also completed a certificate program in voice at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Jonathan Minkoff was the choral director and voice instructor for Grayslake High School. He has received numerous musical awards including the National Harmony Sweepstakes' Best Original Arrangement and Best Original Composition, Chicago's Sweeps Champion, and Chicago's Audience Favorite. For his own vocal compositions, Minkoff was selected as one of only two composers in the prestigious New York City Genesius Guild's Revolutionary Writers program and his original composition, "Christmas Valentine" shared a Contemporary A cappella Recording Award nomination for "Best Holiday Album" in 2011 ("The More The Merrier"). Minkoff is a frequent judge at both collegiate and professional a cappella competitions including the New York and Mid-Atlantic Harmony Sweepstakes, NCHSA and ICCA/Varsity Vocals and the Wooten A cappella Fest. Minkoff has performed or conducted seminars in a cappella at the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 East Coast A cappella Summits, SoJam 2005, the Vermont A cappella Summit 2007, SpringSing 2009 and SpringSing 2010: Voices United for a Cure, SingStrongDC2009 and 2010, AcappellaStock2009, A cappella Fest Chicago 2009, the Los Angeles A cappella Festival, Midwest Vocal Fest 2010, Mile High Vocal Jam 2010 and the "AH! Cappella" Music Festival 2011. Jonathan Minkoff served as Executive Director and Producer for the East Coast A cappella Summit from 2003 until 2008. He served three terms as the President of CASA - The Contemporary A Cappella Society, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the furtherance of a cappella music. In late 2004 Minkoff received national attention as a featured expert in a cappella music on The Jane Pauley Show where he also musically directed, arranged for, and performed with the Jane Pauley Singers. Minkoff runs a ProTools HD|3 based, vocal-centered recording studio, "Minkoff Arts, LLC" (formerly Jungle Studios), where he records, writes and produces for a select group of artists, including former Boston Harmony Sweepstakes Champions, Ball In the House, solo artist, Wes Carroll, voiceover artist, Diana Preisler and others. The studio is physically located on 42nd Street, in the heart of Manhattan, just steps from Times Square. Minkoff has written over 250 music reviews on www.RARB.org, writes a cappella "how to" articles for www.ACAPPELLA101.com, reviews the world of a cappella blogs at www.ACAblog.net and writes articles on various issues relating to a cappella music including:
During daylight hours Minkoff can be found as a partner of the law firm of Fuchsberg & Fuchsberg, LLP. The firm has more than half a century's expertise in personal injury and medical malpractice. Minkoff has since expanded his personal practice to include artists and businesses who need intellectual property and entertainment law representation. |
Jonny: At-a-glanceVoice Part: countertenor/lead/bass/back-up vp/instrument imitation/jetpack.... whaddya need?
Role in the band: improviser/analyzer Nicknames: Minky, Jonny Favorite Food: pizza with extra sauce Favorite Drink: sugar-free Rockstar Favorite Candy: peanut butter M&Ms/Oreos Favorite Movie: Today it's "Get Him to the Greek" and "Megamind" Favorite TV Show: 30 Rock Proudest Accomplishment: Giving birth. Wait. I never did that. Most memorable moment in Blue Jupiter: Singing at SingStrong Three things people don't know about you:
Something on your bucket list: Skydive |
