Jakob Bonasera was born in Böblingen in 1999. He studied to become an art teacher at secondary schools (school music) with piano as his main subject at the Karlsruhe University of Music (minor subject: geography at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology). He then completed his bachelor's degree in music theory there under Prof. Michael Moriz. This was followed by a master's degree in music theory at the Freiburg University of Music under Prof. Dr. Ludwig Holtmeier, Prof. Dr. Hans Aerts and Prof. Robert Bauer. He is currently working on his doctorate in musicology (Dr. phil.) at the Freiburg University of Music with a thesis on ‘Nadia Boulanger in the context of the Paris Conservatoire’ (supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hans Aerts).
Since 2023, he has been a lecturer in music theory and aural training at the Karlsruhe University of Music, where he also worked as a research assistant and substitute professor for music theory from 2024 to 2025. From 2024 to 2025, he was also a lecturer in music theory at the Detmold University of Music. Since 2026, he has been a lecturer in music theory at the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts.
He regularly publishes on topics related to music theory.