Jay Jordan holds a B.A. from San Jose State University and an M.A. from San Francisco State University, both in Music Education. He was the music director at Serra High School in San Mateo, CA from 1977 until he retired in 2018. During that time he conducted all the performing ensembles including Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Men's Chorus, and Mixed Chorus. He also wrote and arranged for each of these groups as well as receiving commissions from outside groups. His original composition The Rosslyn Fire for SATB chorus was published by Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc. in 2014; the remainder of his arrangements and original compositions are published by Hal Leonard and available at Sheet Music Plus and Sheet Music Direct.
Jordan was named the San Mateo County Arts Educator of the Year for Music in 2011. He continues to be a freelance trumpet and guitar player in the San Francisco Bay Area.