about.
Jonathan Seligman (he/him) is an Asian-American elementary music educator born, raised, and serving in San Diego, CA. He’s taught at Casillas Elementary for the past ten years, creating the program from the ground up. Casillas now has two 40+ person choirs, two concert bands, an ‘ukulele club, and a Philippine Music Group. In class, Jonathan focuses on students finding their voice through their own creation and improvisation via music, movement, and sound design. On top of creating their own work, a large emphasis of Jonathan’s is to provide literature of the students’ diverse backgrounds and beyond.
At heart, Jonathan is a folk musician, growing up with communal songs and the American Renaissance of the 60s. Seligman fervently believes, though, that folk music is not static. It did not end with “O Danny Boy” and “Sakura, Sakura.” It exists in the pop music and soundtracks on the current market. Students can have a say in the folk music of tomorrow if they are taught to believe in their voices today.
Outside education, you can find Jonathan exploring the art form of video games, writing music, vying economic justice for the houseless community, or hiking through National and State Parks.
Jonathan received his B.Mus in Composition and an M.A. in Teaching from Point Loma Nazarene University, with a dual teaching credential in music and special education (mild/moderate). He has also completed certification in all three levels in Orff-Schulwerk as well as First Steps and Conversational Solfege in Feierabend.
Jonathan currently serves as the President for the San Diego Chapter of American Orff-Schulwerk Assocation (AOSA). In the past, he has served as Vice President of Instrumental Music for the California Music Educator Association Southern Border Section (CMEA-SBS). He is one of the first induction Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) induction mentor in Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD). Jonathan is also the co-founder and co-host of the elementary music podcast Chaotic Harmony. He is also the founder of the Chula Vista Elementary VAPA Festival, an annual event that’s been seven years strong where schools from across the district from all disciplines showcase their art on the same stage.
Jonathan was named Music Teacher of Excellence in 2024 by the Country Music Association Foundation, as well as San Diego County Teacher of the Year finalist in 2022. He is also the recipient of the 2022 Arts Empower Ovation Award for Creative Leader, 2022 CMEA-SBS Fortissimo Award for Elementary Music Specialist, and 2021 CMEA-SBS Fortissimo Award for Innovative Distance Music Educator.
If you’d like to reach out to Jonathan
feel free to contact him here!