A native of Windsor, NC, Dr. Jonovan T. Cooper, is a 1998 graduate of North Carolina Central University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz. Cooper also obtained a Master of Music in Music Education from Norfolk State University, a Master’s in Business Administration from American Intercontinental University and a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from The American Conservatory of Music. He has also had the honor of studying privately with Frank Foster of the Count Basie Orchestra.

 

Jonovan has performed as a member of the US Navy Band, the 70s show Band, "Right On," on cruise ships, in stage plays, musicals, with his own bands, music ministries and more! He performed in Europe, Asia, Africa, and all the America’s (North, South & Central) and has performed with some of the world’s greatest musicians including Louis Belson, Chuck Mangione, and Ronan Tynan to name a few and has opened for The Four Tops, Isaac Hayes, Russell Batiste and The Commodores. Notable Ethiopian musicians he performed with include Mulatu Astatke, Teddy Afro, Abegaz Shiota, Lily Tilahun, Henock Temesgen, Teferi Assefa and others.

 

In 2009, Jonovan moved to Ethiopia. His first two years were spent traveling the world performing on a major cruise line. In 2011, he made his residence there and remained for the next 10 years. While in Ethiopia he performed for the nation’s highest leaders including the prime minister and became highly sought after to perform for the embassies of various nations within the country. He was soon appointed as Director of the Music ministry at his church which hosts the annual Africa Arise conference. This event brings churches from the entire continent together to address issues facing the nations. He continued his international performance path while performing Ethiopian music and Ethio-jazz. He taught at the country’s largest university as Assistant Professor of Music where he composed and conducted the university orchestra. He continued recording on many artists’ albums and recorded two albums with his own band.

 

Dr. Cooper recently returned to NC with his wife and sons when he accepted an offer to teach at NC A&T State University in Greensboro, NC as the jazz band director. Now that he’s back in the states, he wants to extend what he learned while in Ethiopia to further develop his compositions. Still intrigued by the culture and music of the country, he has formed a new band called tEwEsta, which means recall. It’s his way of remembering his experiences through performance.