At the age of 2, it was undeniable that Joshua Jones had a fascination with percussion. Jones, who is graduating this spring with a Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University, vividly remembers breaking apart small white hangers and using them to bang on pots and pans or car doors.

When he was 3, Jones received his first drum set from his grandfather. “It was a Mickey Mouse drum set,” Jones said. “I played on it so much that it broke.”

A year later, Jones took his drums and passion for music to play in his godmother’s church.

A native of the Englewood community in Chicago, Jones never foresaw percussion becoming something that would offer him scholarships or a career. But when he started taking lessons through the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Percussion Scholarship Group in fourth grade, Jones realized that church was not the only place where he could share his musical talent.

The scholarship program, along with the marimba, snare drum and bass drum, quickly became a central part of Jones’ life. It inspired him to pursue orchestral percussion as a profession, something not often seen among men and women of color, according to Jones.

No longer a student with the CSO group, Jones has taken on the role of assistant director for the program. “I teach the students, but I think of myself as more of a mentor,” Jones said.

“It’s great to see the kids grow up before your eyes. They’re amazing people and I feel like their big brother,” Jones said with a laugh.

The students often tell Jones how much they love his excitement and fearlessness to sing notes in front of them and look silly doing it.

After graduation Jones will travel to Michigan to add a new musical chapter to his opus. On Sept. 1 he begins a two-year fellowship with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. While in Detroit, Jones hopes to take part in community outreach opportunities. During his off time from the orchestra, Jones will be in Cleveland, earning an artist’s diploma at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

“I’m looking forward to having more time to hone my skills and learn from amazing mentors and teachers,” Jones said.

It’s a bittersweet time for Jones. Though he will work with some of the best instructors and performers of all time, he will miss the DePaul community, especially two mentors from the School of Music — Michael Lewanski and Eric Millstein.

Lewanski, conductor of the DePaul Chamber Orchestra and conducting assistant for the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, advised Jones to “treat every rehearsal as a performance” and to “make a musical statement every time you play.”

Jones took those words to heart. “I treat every performance like it is my last,” he said.

“Mr. Lewanski taught me the importance of making connections within the ensemble,” Jones noted.

“Joshua is one of the finest students I have ever taught. He is always brimming with enthusiasm, and this translates into an outstanding work ethic and an unfailing sense of preparation,” Lewanski said.

“Most importantly, though, his musicianship is of the best kind: sincere and unflaggingly energetic,” Lewanski said. “He is a person who brings his all as a musician and a human being to every rehearsal.”

Jones’ other DePaul mentor, Millstein, is a percussionist with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Grant Park Orchestra, and has been a support for Jones in both his musical and personal life.

“Eric really emphasized the importance of playing the music rather than the notes,” Jones said. “My view of the orchestral system changed a lot while at DePaul. I used to think it was a very cut-throat business, but he taught me the importance of playing the music with soul.”

Jones hopes that current and incoming DePaul student musicians don’t forget why they wanted to practice music in the first place.

“Remember why you’re doing this,” Jones said. “Never lose sight of your humanity.”

Written by Michele Seyfarth

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