Jonas Edwin Sills -Actor- Singer - Creator
B i o g r a p h y
IWelcome to the website of Jonas Edwin Sills Lyric High Baritone, Actor, Conductor , Producer and Teacher.
"Encouraging self worth and esteem through the expeirence of music."..... Teaching Mission Statement
"A lover of life, a patron of the arts, a performer, an artist, an entrepeneur, and a believer in possibilities".... Life Statement
I have been described as having "tears on the voice" and am drawn to a style and repertoire that invokes an emotional response, and spiritual introspection.
My vocal style has been compared to such performers as Josh Groban, Michael Feinstein, Mandy Patinkin, and Mario Lanza. I'd like to think of myself as a mixture of those influences.
Singing since a young age I have sung with various esteemed choral groups such as the California Boys Choir, Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers, Pacific Chorale, Opera Pacific, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Stephen S Weiss Chorus, and countless churches, and other vocal groups.
As a solo performer I have played roles with various theater companies in the Los Angeles area and beyond, working with professional companies including Musical Theater West, Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities, Fullerton Civic Light Opera, Theater League, Jacgo Productions. I have also sung extensively in restaraunts and other public venues in the SoCal area.
As a conductor and teacher I worked for 15 years as a public school music teacher for the Long Beach Unified School District at virtually every level with a focus on primary and middle school chorus. I have directed church choirs for the Unitarian and Methodist Churches as well as am the founder and artistic director for the Los Angeles Musical Theater Youth Chorus.
In recent years I have been drawn to create my own art with my production company, "Art-In-Relation" (www.artinrelation.com) . Producing two seasons of fully staged and professional productions in Long Beach is just the beginning as we regroup and look for venues that will be able to share our unique vision in southern California.
I am happy to make my home in downtown long beach where I have a unique store called the "BeeBop Shop" (in honor of my parents, Bernie and Barbara Sills) (facebook.com/mybeebopshop) which specializes in serving the community with unique imported items, conveinience store items, and music and arts classes.
I live with my lovely wife, Heidi, my two cats, Kitty-Man (21 years old!) , and Kinky, and countless fish and turtles. I am proud of my performing daughter Emily who is 14 and incredibly busy with a emerging career of her own.
I have a demo album "Heartsongs" which is self produced.
For more info please see my resume and photos.
