In a distinguished career spanning more than five decades, Samuel Jones has enriched American musical life as a composer, conductor and educator. His works encompass orchestral, choral, operatic and chamber repertoire, and have been widely performed by leading American orchestras and soloists.

Jones grew up in Indianola and Jackson, Mississippi and graduated with highest honours from Millsaps College before earning Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in music composition at the Eastman School of Music where he studied under Howard Hanson. In 1973 he was chosen to establish the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University serving as its founding dean for six years and also as professor of composition and conducting until 1997. Other posts have included conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic in New York and the Saginaw Symphony in Michigan. He has guest-conducted extensively and is a frequent master teacher at conducting workshops throughout the United States. He has been composer-in-residence with Seattle Symphony since 1997.

Among the works Jones has composed for Seattle Symphony are Janus (for the opening of Benaroya Hall) and Chorale-Overture for Organ and Orchestra (for the orchestra’s 100th anniversary) as well as the Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra (première in 2006) and the Concerto for Horn and Orchestra (première in 2008.)