Born in Akron, Ohio in 1981, Jonathan began playing the cello at the age of 5. His father Michael
Flaksman, a world-renowned cellist and teacher, was one of the major
influences of his teaching and playing.
He attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Juilliard School, and the University of
Mannheim in Germany.
He has participated in festivals and masterclasses throughout the US and Europe, including Aurora Chamber Music in Sweden and the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth, and has performed with various orchestras in Germany,
including the Nationaltheater Mannheim, Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern, and the
philharmonics of Heidelberg and Ludwigshafen, gaining invaluable musical knowledge
and experience.
He performs regularly at the Ascoli Piceno Festival in Italy.
In 2015 Jonathan was appointed assistant principal cellist of the Santa Barbara Symphony and
moved to Los Angeles.
He was appointed assistant principal cellist of the New Mexico Philharmonic in 2021, and has been a member of the Long Beach Symphony since 2022. In 2024, he was appointed assistant principal cellist of the Vallejo Symphony and the Modesto Symphony.
He plays in many orchestras throughout California, including the Pasadena Symphony and Pops and New West Symphony.
He records for major motion pictures and music albums.
Jonathan plays, composes, arranges, and produces music in all genres.
He is also a registered yoga teacher and is an expert skier.
My father and the many other world-class artists with whom I have played and studied
instilled in me an extensive understanding and appreciation of the musical traditions of
classical technique and interpretation.
I feel a responsibility to share the musical knowledge I've gained with others. I'd like to give more people the opportunity to continue the great classical music tradition. I also strive to open up new avenues of music making, using traditional classical techniques to create music in any genre.
When I was in high school, I began teaching children and coaching fellow
cellists in the Akron Youth Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra.
After moving to Germany, I often coached other students and assisted my father's cello
and chamber music classes while in grad school at the University of Mannheim.
I have had private students of all ages and abilities, taught at schools ranging from pre-K to
college, and given masterclasses in Germany, Italy, and the USA.
My students have gained entrance to prestigious universities, and I've coached fellow
musicians to win orchestral auditions and competition prizes.