Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he received a B.M. in Music Education from Columbus State University with focuses on conducting, trombone, and vocal performance and a M.M. in Choral Conducting at Texas Tech University where he was also director of the Texas Tech Men’s Glee Club. He has been the director of music at churches in Georgia, Texas, and Washington. Jesse began his teaching career at Alderson-Broaddus College where he conducted the Concert Choir, Chapel Choir, and the touring ensemble “The West Virginians”. He was a member of the adventurous vocal ensemble “The Esoterics” while living in Seattle from 2004-2006. Jesse has been the founder of two after-school jazz programs that have collaborated with Midori and Friends, Alvin Atkinson, Wycliffe Gordon, and Wynton Marsalis.