Dr. Jonathan Øverby is an ethnomusicologist who brings a specialized focus to the interpretation of music as a living expression of culture, identity, and historical exchange. A lyric baritone and conductor, “Dr. Ø” has served as executive producer and host of Wisconsin Public Radio's The Road to Higher Ground with Jonathan Øverby for more than 30 years.His work centers on the study of global musical traditions through the lens of diaspora, with particular emphasis on port cities as sites of convergence where African, Caribbean, European, and Indigenous influences give rise to new sound worlds.

Central to his approach is the Sound Portrait Framework™, an interpretive methodology he has developed to guide audiences beyond listening into deeper cultural understanding. Through this model, participants engage music not only as sound, but as lived human experience—situated within ritual, migration, memory, and community. His presentations invite travelers to hear connections across geographies and histories, revealing how traditions such as early New Orleans jazz emerge from complex networks of cultural encounter.

In this capacity, Dr. Ø serves not only as a lecturer, but as a cultural interpreter—translating the meaning of music across contexts and illuminating the human stories embedded within sound. He has earned many awards for his commitment to education, leadership, and service, including induction into Folk Alliance International's Folk DJ Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.