A Native of Montego Bay, Jamaica, O’Neil Jones remains an active baritone soloist and choral conductor. Having made his solo debut in 2011, he went on to perform the lead role in Jamaica’s first operetta, 1865, a role he reprised 3 years later in the country’s first full scale opera. An active vocalist, he has been a soloist in several masterworks, most recently the Fauré Requiem. Equally interested in the world of Opera, Jones’ credits include lead roles in classics such as Donizetti’s L'elisir D'amore to Edwin Penhorwood’s modern opera, Too Many Sopranos. 

He is highly interested in Jamaican Choral Theatre and its amalgamation with the recital style of choral production practiced in the Americas. His current research centers on Jamaica’s search for a Post-Colonial Identity as expressed in the development of a uniquely Jamaican style of choral composition and arrangement. 

Jones holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Alcorn State University and Master of Music degree with double emphases in choral conducting, and vocal performance and pedagogy from the University of Southern Mississippi. He also earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Colorado, Boulder. When not onstage, Jones can be found enjoying a concert, listening to a wide array of musical genres from Mozart to Marley or simply enjoying a day at the beach.

O'Neil Jones is a 2023-2025 Fellowship Artist at Boulder Bach Festival, and a member of the Fellowship Artist Vocal Quartet. In this capacity he performs, presents, and teaches masterclasses throughout the region at a variety of schools and public venues.