As a trumpeter and flugelhornist, Saraga has performed throughout North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America, appearing in hundreds of cities across nearly seventy countries. He has performed with many of the most respected jazz orchestras and big bands in New York and beyond, including ensembles led by Maria Schneider, Mingus, Darcy James Argue, Jon Faddis, Dan Pugach, Miho Hazama, Emilio Solla, Samuel Torres, and others. Equally at home as a section player, lead trumpeter, and featured soloist, he has built a career around a lifelong dedication to the art of ensemble performance and improvised music.
Jonathan Saraga is a composer and arranger whose work draws from jazz, contemporary classical music, and a wide range of global musical influences. His compositions and arrangements have received recognition from organizations including Chamber Music America, ASCAP, BMI, the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers, and the International Songwriting Competition. His music has been performed internationally by professional ensembles, university groups, and artists across multiple continents. Through both large-scale and small-ensemble works, he is committed to creating music that balances compositional craft, emotional depth, improvisation, and narrative storytelling.
Saraga holds Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees and is an active educator, clinician, and lecturer. He has presented master classes, workshops, and educational programs for musicians of all ages and levels, with particular interests in jazz improvisation, composition, arranging, trumpet pedagogy, and creative practice. His work as an educator is informed by decades of performance experience and a belief that artistic growth is rooted in curiosity, discipline, mentorship, and lifelong learning.