Biography

Classical guitarist Jon Mendle has performed around the country since his Carnegie Hall debut at age 19 and has drawn widespread praise for his virtuosity and musicianship. Soundboard magazine called his debut album L’Infidele “a beautiful disc.”  Yo-Yo Ma, who in 2010 invited Jon to join him and the Silk Road Ensemble on a 10-concert tour, calls Jon "a beautiful talent and a sensitive musician," adding, “It is a joy to play with him!"

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jon has performed throughout the United States, as well as in Canada and Europe. Highlights include solo recitals at the 2015 Loyola-Marymount University Guitar Festival, the 2014 Guitar Foundation of America annual convention, and for presenters such as San Francisco Performances and guitar societies up and down the west coast. On tour with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, Jon performed at the Tanglewood and Ravinia summer music festivals as well as at Detroit’s Orchestra Hall and other major venues.

Recently, Jon won second prize in the 2021 "Concorso di Musica Antica Maurizio Pratola" international lute competition in L'Aquila, Italy.

Jon’s debut recording L’Infidele, which includes transcriptions of 18th century lute and keyboard music, received critical acclaim following its 2011 release by In A Circle Records. The Huffington Post described the album as “stunning and textured,” while Northwest Reverb praised Jon’s “incredible artistry and deep musicianship.”  Soundboard wrote, “Mendle’s playing is a wonder.” 

As a teacher, Jon is a faculty member at Pacific Union College in Angwin, Calif., the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College division, and maintains studios throughout the Bay Area.

Jon completed his Master's and Professional Studies degrees at the San Francisco Conservatory under the tutelage of Sergio Assad and Judicael Perroy, respectively.  While at the Conservatory, Jon also studied lutes and early guitars with Richard Savino. He continues to take lute lessons with players such as Nigel North, Ronn McFarlane, and Paul O'Dette whenever possible. Jon also received his undergraduate degree from the San Francisco Conservatory, studying under Lawrence Ferrara, Marc Teicholz, David Tanenbaum, and Dusan Bogdanovic. His first teacher was Matthew Grasso.

Jon's Instruments

Jon performs on a variety of instruments, including renaissance lute, vihuela, baroque lute, theorbo, 19th century guitar and classical guitar. More info coming soon!