About Sonja Jewell
Sonja Jewell holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, Summa Cum Laude, from Youngstown State University, with a double major in trumpet and voice. Her master’s degree is in Music Education from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, with a major in instrumental conducting and specialization in trumpet. Ms. Jewell completed postgraduate courses at Indiana University with voice chair Dr. Roger Hvronek. Other notable mentors include Charles Gorham and Essotto Pelligrini, trumpet; David Baker and Tony Leonardi, jazz studies; and Ray Cramer, instrumental conducting. Sonja has taught all levels of public and private school band, orchestra, and choir, as well as music education courses at Indiana University. Believing that all students should have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument, she designed a successful music program in which all students begin learning an instrument in fourth grade and continue through graduation. Sonja has been honored as “Loudoun County, Virginia’s Favorite Music Instructor,” and was a quarter-finalist for a Music Educator Grammy award. She is also an active freelance musician and adjudicator. In her free time, Sonja enjoys playing tennis, strength training, reading, and spending time with her family.
