As a qualified teacher Jason Thornton spent five years delivering classroom music at Key Stage Three, Four & Five, including a year as Head of Music at Ansford Community School Castle Cary, Somerset and two years as Head of Sixth Form Music at Broadoak School Weston Super Mare. Later he lectured at Bath Spa University teaching first, second & third year under-graduate students in a range of courses.

Jason has been active as a freelance animateur, facilitating creative work with young people alongside festivals, orchestras and choirs since 2001. He is currently educational consultant for the European Union Chamber Orchestra, Bath Festivals Trust, Frome Festival & Bath Phil. He is also director of the new Community Music course at Bath Spa University. His work is characterised by projects simultaneously engaging with young people from the mainstream and special educational needs sectors, in creative music making, facilitating participants to invent their own music in their own style, whilst creatively engaging with professional musicians.

His work with festivals and venues includes projects for the Bath International Music Festival, St George’s Bristol, Hall for Cornwall, Bath Mozartfest, as well as the Frome, Thaxted and Roseland Festivals. Jason has also delivered projects alongside the London Symphony Orchestra (with composer John Adams), Britten Sinfonia (with Dr Tim Steiner), European Union Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players (with Natalie Clein), National Youth Orchestra and Bath Phil. Internationally Jason has led projects in Hungary (Liszt Ferenc Music School – Kaposvar) and in the US (Pendleton Elelmentary School – Oregon).

Future projects include work with the Royal Philharmonic, European Union Chamber Orchestra, St George’s Bristol, Bath Phil, a re-invention of Tristan & Isolde with schools in Cornwall & Brittany, a return to the Liszt Frenec Music School Hungary, a major music and community project for Frome Festival and a creative year long residency at Dorset County Museum.

 “…Jake often takes part in different events as today's society says you have to include people of all abilities, however there is a big difference between having to include people and wanting to – I think you have cracked it! I know Jake has had a great week. Thank you.'
Louise Tendry – Parent of Jake – pupil at Tregony Primary School Cornwall)