JONATHAN CROSSLEY
Dr Jonathan Crossley is a British–South African guitarist, composer, and academic whose work bridges musical practice, technology, and critical research. As a lecturer in music technology, his teaching and scholarship explore performance, improvisation, and digital systems, alongside sustained research into African instruments, indigenous musical knowledge, and their roles within Christian liturgy. Grounded in classical and jazz traditions yet informed by experimental and interdisciplinary approaches, his work combines practice-based inquiry with critical theory to examine how musicianship, technology, ritual, and meaning are produced in contemporary musical and worship contexts.
At the University of Liverpool, Crossley teaches across music technology and popular music programmes, where he emphasises creative experimentation, critical listening, and reflective practice. His teaching integrates studio production, performance, and digital tools with broader cultural and theoretical perspectives, encouraging students to engage thoughtfully with technology as both a creative medium and a social force. Drawing on his background as a performer-researcher, he fosters an inclusive, inquiry-led learning environment that connects technical skill development with artistic identity, research literacy, and professional practice.
Selected research outputs:
Harris, C. and Crossley, J. (2025) ‘Collaboration, creativity and care: pedagogical approaches in a South African undergraduate electronic music module’, Journal of the musical arts in Africa, 22(1–2), pp. 61–75. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2989/18121004.2025.2590364.
'That Which Has Remained, That Which Will Emerge', Lukas Ligeti. Jonathan Crossley mixing engineer.
'Paspanga', Burkina Electric. Jonathan Crossley, mixing engineer.
Crossley, J. (2016) 'The Cyber-guitar system: nuance in instrumental practice as a motivation for immediacy within gestural controllers'
Crossley, J & De Santos, A. (2016). 'Twiddling the Knobs, or Tweaking your Trumpet: Expanding Improvisational Pedagogy to Embrace Organological Adaption'
Crossley, J. (2023). 'son0_morph 1-3: immersive technological DIY environments for creative sonic practice'