Jonathan Bailey Holland
Composer · 1974– · US
An American composer who writes vivid orchestral music inspired by images and place
In short
Jonathan Bailey Holland is an American composer, born in Flint, Michigan, in 1974. He writes for orchestra, chamber groups and chorus, and his music has been performed by orchestras across the United States. He is also a teacher and has held leadership posts in composition at a major music school. His piece El Jaleo takes its title from a famous painting.
What the music sounds like
Holland's orchestral music is colorful and rhythmic, with a sense of motion from the first bars. Short melodic ideas are passed around the orchestra and built up into larger waves of sound. Strings often shimmer or dance while winds and brass add sharp accents, and percussion supplies a driving pulse. Slower passages are open and spacious, giving the ear room to breathe. His music is tonal enough to follow easily, with clear shapes and a sense of drama, and it is often inspired by images, places or stories. Pieces tend to be short to medium in length, a few minutes to about fifteen, and they usually end with a bright, decisive gesture.
Where to start
- El Jaleo The one piece of his in our directory, a rhythmic orchestral work taking its title from a well-known painting.
Written by OrchestraFinder, reviewed October 2026.