A native of San Diego, he grew up playing in punk rock and heavy metal bands. As a composer his Canto 34, a setting of Dante's Inferno, was performed in Siena, Italy. He has performed with a wide variety of ensembles, and has studied abroad in Italy and France. Jeffrey holds AA degrees in both Classical Music, and Humanities and Fine Arts from Grossmont College, and a Bachelor's in Composition from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Elinor Armer.