Bringing Passion and Purpose to the Podium
Whiteland, Indiana native Jonas Ferrando has never been far from music. A talented trombone and bass trombone player, Jonas has been deeply involved in band throughout his high school years—whether performing in marching band, jazz band, show band, pep band, musical pit, or representing the fine arts academic team. Now, he’s preparing to turn that passion into a career through a major in music education at Ball State University.
“I want to be an educator because I want to be able to help have an impact on students’ lives to help them become better people,” Jonas says. “I want to be able to help them as much as I can to see them strive for what they want to achieve in life.”
Jonas is also a recipient of the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, a prestigious, renewable scholarship awarded to high-achieving Indiana students who commit to teaching in the state for five years after graduation. The scholarship provides up to $10,000 per year for four academic years—supporting Jonas in his goal of becoming an impactful music educator.
A Campus That Feels Like Home
Ball State has long been on Jonas’s radar.
“Whenever I would come here for college visits, I always enjoyed the vibe of the campus,” he explains. “I also had many of my band directors come from Ball State and that helped sway my decision a bit.”
With the fall semester approaching, he’s especially excited for one big thing: marching band.
“I love everything band related,” he says. “I’m really excited to experience band on a college level and be a part of them.”
Beyond the Rehearsal Room
When Jonas isn’t rehearsing or performing, he enjoys winding down with video games or YouTube. He also loves to travel and shop, especially when he can explore new cities. And as a dedicated Colts fan, Jonas has a fun tradition: “Every year since 2020, I’ve been going to at least one Colts game.”
Invested in Indiana’s Future
With his heart set on music education and a drive to inspire the next generation of students, Jonas Ferrando is ready to take the stage—both in the classroom and on the field. We’re proud to welcome him to Ball State and Teachers College as a future educator and leader.
Comments:
Being Jonas’s grandma has been such a beautiful journey watching him grow from a baby to this amazing young man!! Who knew that this quiet and shy boy would grow to be just the opposite of who he was!! He is smart, talented, and full of love for his family, friends and especially his music!! 🎶 Jonas just doesn’t play his trombone , he plays it with passion and you can see and feel the songs every time he plays!! One day we are singing 🎶 in the car and going to arcades and the next thing you know it he has graduated high school with and going to college!! I am so proud of Jonas. Words can’t describe!! I know he will be an asset to any school for teaching young people how to play!! Will be watching his journey at your wonderful college to see how his story continues!!💜
What a blessing you are for the wonderful scholarship!!