Monica Jones

Monica Jones is a Métis musician, composer, artist and music educator. She has always had a passion for music, studying piano as a child to clarinet and then saxophone in highschool. She studied jazz with Janice Finlay and Brian Zimmerman during her high school years, offering a solid foundation in saxophone and jazz improvisation, while earning her recognition through provincial awards and honour band invitations. Monica furthered her studies in jazz saxophone at Brandon University where she studied with Greg Gatien, Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Saxophone. She developed her musicianship and performance abilities in the Brandon University Big Band, in numerous small jazz ensembles and through her concentrated studies in jazz improvisation, music theory, ear training, and composition. Monica has had the opportunity to perform with many high caliber bands including the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, The Ron Paley Big Band, The Dirty Catfish Brass Band, The Winnipeg Jazz Collective, Same Old Schtick, Sir Luke and the Dukes and the Big City All Star Band. While her main instruments are Tenor and Alto saxophone, she also doubles on soprano saxophone, flute, clarinet and vocals. Under her own name in small ensemble settings, she performs on saxophone and as a vocalist in genres of R&B/Soul and Jazz. Monica is also a composer and has written and arranged music for various sized ensembles from jazz duos to nonets, saxophone quartets, jazz orchestras and is currently working on a new commission for concert band. Monica’s original piece for jazz ensemble called Seed Keepers (2024) was commissioned through the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra and has been performed by the Winnipeg Women’s Jazz Orchestra (2024, 2025); The Calgary Women’s Jazz Orchestra (May 2024) and the Brandon University Jazz Ensemble at The Brandon Jazz Festival (March 2025), and has been purchased by several high school and university teachers around Manitoba and North Dakota. Monica is currently working on a new composition for level 1.5 (beginner) concert band commissioned by Winnipeg 1 School Division. Monica has been teaching private saxophone lessons since 2005 and coaches in the Winnipeg school district on saxophone and wood winds. She is on faculty at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music (since 2015) and the Winnipeg Conservatory of Music (since 2020) as well as her own private studio (since 2012). She provides jazz and classical instruction as well as aural skills, theory, improvisation, composition and university audition prep. Many of her students have gone on to pursue music degrees after successful university auditions. Monica also works as a clinician with jazz band ensembles and saxophone sections from various junior and high schools throughout Winnipeg and Manitoba.