Dr Jonathan Dimond

Dr Jonathan Dimond is a performer, composer and educator. He currently teaches as a senior lecturer and Head of Program for Melbourne Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Music. Jonathan embraces continuous learning as a central tenet of his life, and works on his creative practice in such a way that allows him to apply his teaching in a direct and reflexive manner. As such, Jonathan engages with his students as a colleague and collaborator, fostering the spirit of enquiry from a personal and embedded vantage point. Jonathan has over 30 years experience as a band-leader and side-man for cabaret shows, jazz bands, big bands, orchestras, chamber ensembles, Indian classical groups, theatre ensembles and jazz/rock fusion bands.  

Jonathan has taught at Melbourne Polytechnic since 2011.  Prior to this, Jonathan was a full-time music teacher at Box Hill Institute of TAFE for four years. He believes that teaching and learning are central to the progression of life. Jonathan enjoys learning new skills, and enjoys facilitating the learning change in others as it enriches understanding through the development of increased perspective upon even "well-known" topics. He believes that applied learning is essential in the field of music training and his teaching emphasises the practical application of learned theory.  

Dr. Dimond earned his PhD in Composition from the University of Queensland in 2019. He also holds a Master of Music (Contemporary Improvisation – with Academic Honors) and Graduate Diploma (Contemporary Improvisation) from the New England Conservatory in Boston, USA, as well as a Bachelor of Music (Trombone/Composition – with Distinction) from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

Jonathan has vast experience in music performance and recording, performing on stage with such artists as John Denver, Paul Grabowsky, George Russell, Mike Nock, Roger Dean, Lou Rawls, Bob Moses, Ronnie Corbett, Gulfam Sabri, Guru Karaikudi Mani, Arthur Lipner, Darryl Pratt, Roger Frampton, and Urbie Green. He has performed in such venues as Lincoln Center (New York), Jordan Hall (Boston), Queensland Performing Arts Complex (Brisbane), Sydney Opera House, REDCAT Theater (Los Angeles), and in clubs around Australia, Japan, and the USA.

Jonathan's main creative project is the band Tripataka, an ensemble that creates hybridisations of jazz and intercultural music. They have recorded two albums - "Yakiya" and "Gliese 667C". Jonathan has several CDs released with his Brisbane-based contemporary jazz group, Loops. Whilst based in Los Angeles, Jonathan provided bass and tabla tracks for numerous projects, both creative and commercial. He also appears as bassist on creative recording projects that have included Artisans Workshop and Topology.

He has received composition commissions from ABC Classic-FM Radio, the Australian National Academy of Music, Capital Media (Cable TV U.S.A.), Arts Queensland, “Out of The Box” Festival of Early Childhood, Yoram Levy (trumpeter with the Israeli Philharmonic), Simone DeHaan (trombone), and others.