Film and concert composer Jonathan Manness has had his music described as “solid, yet sensitive and magical,” and “expertly written [and] deeply felt.” Even though he composes for multiple genres, Jon’s music engages performers and audiences without compromising his own artistic integrity. Ultimately, the emotional undertones of the material become the basis of his work.
Recent work includes scoring original music for the Avatar Extended Collector’s Edition Blu-ray (“The Night Before Avatar”), arranging for Hershey Entertainment & Resorts (Hersheypark), and serving as producer and composer of Who Speaks for Wolf, a modern dance project based on a Native American Learning Story by Paula Underwood. In April 2007, Jon was selected to have his first brass quintet work, Punxsutawney Fails to See His Shadow!, read by the American Brass Quintet. Jon’s jazz band arrangement, Bolivia, can be heard on two promotional CDs: West Chester University Recorded Live at the Kimmel Center and Writer’s Cramp. In 2011, Jon started giving back to the music education community with his latest jazz band commission, Finding You.
Film credits include working with such award-winning filmmakers as Luke Matheny (2011 Academy Award Winner for “God of Love”), T.M. Scorzafava (2-time Emmy Winner & 6-time nominee), John Clisham, Everett Lewis, Tim Leaton, Amanda Rohlke, Ruth Du, Nick Douillard, Mauro Mueller, and Jessie Levandov. In 2008, ASCAP’s “I Create Music” EXPO recognized Manness’s music for “Score a ‘Film Your Issue’ Short” as “among the very best…” Jon’s production music can be licensed through Elias Music Libary and Expat Labs.
Jon graduated from New York University where he received his M.M. in Composition with a Concentration in Scoring for Film and Multimedia and studied with Deniz Hughes (former orchestrator for Oscar-Winning composer, Elliot Goldenthal). Jon received his B.M. in Music Theory and Composition (summa cum laude) from West Chester University in West Chester, PA where he studied classical and jazz with Robert Maggio and Peter Paulsen, respectively. Jon currently lives in Los Angeles.