Jesus Leonardo Flores is a Brooklyn, NY based composer, percussionist, maraquero, and educator that is committed to influencing and expanding the repertoire of contemporary music through commissions and premiere compositions. Jesus has performed with the University of California, Davis Symphony, UC Davis Percussion Ensemble, Pasadena City College Community Orchestra, and PCC Percussion Ensemble. As a soloist, he has appeared in premieres and recitals across Northern and Southern California. Jesus is the founder of Rose City Percussion and In Transit Publications both of which are organizations focused on influencing the creation, promotion, and performance of new music. 

Jesus has premiered original works with the University of California, Davis Percussion Ensemble, and has appeared as a percussion soloist for Dr. Juhi Bansal’s We All Look to the Stars, a full-length cantata commissioned by the Los Angeles Opera. Jesus has also performed Steve Reich’s Drumming along side world renowned percussion ensemble So Percussion, and is also an exceptional maraca player. He incorporates the virtuosic Venezuelan maracas technique into a diverse genre of music such as merengue, cumbia, bossa nova, bachata, and jazz. Apart from his work as a performer, Jesus has also composed original music for Experimental Documentary Animation filmmaker Mayra Alejandra Flores. The films focus primarily on emotionally-driven narratives that capture social issues in an attempt to amplify marginalized voices. 

Jesus is strongly committed to advocating for diverse and under-represented voices in the performing arts. As such, he has participated in outreach programs targeting underserved communities. Most notably, he has held a position as a music teacher intern for Education Through Music, Los Angeles - a non-profit organization that establishes music programs in inner-city schools that don’t have funding allocated to the arts. Jesus currently holds a position as a College Reading & Learning Association Certified Music Tutor for the Pasadena City College Music Department and is a recipient of the Fannie Kopald Stein Memorial Award for Excellence in Musical Performance.

As a graduate of the University of California, Davis School of Music and Pasadena City College Music Department, Jesus has had the privilege to studied under Christopher Froh, Kurt Rohde, Juhi Bansal, Kenneth McGrath, and Nick Stoup, respectively.