IMG Artists is delighted to welcome conductor Jonathon Heyward to its roster for worldwide general management. Mr Heyward will be represented by Vice President and Artist Manager Derek Chandruang from the company’s London office.
Hailed by Sir Mark Elder as “a bright rising star of the conducting world,” Heyward is the Chief Conductor Designate of Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie (from January 2021), and recently completed three years as Assistant Conductor of the Hallé Orchestra. Winner of the 2015 Besançon International Conducting Competition, Jonathon was selected as a Los Angeles Philharmonic Dudamel Conducting Fellow for the 2017/18 season, during which he made his subscription concert debut as part of the orchestra’s Bernstein @ 100 Celebration at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The Los Angeles Times writes of the performance that he, “forged a seamless connection among the music, the orchestra, and the audience,” and that the “concert augurs great things to come”.
Derek said: “I am delighted to welcome Jonathon Heyward to IMG Artists’ very fine roster of conductors for worldwide general management. Jonathon’s incisive musicianship, ear for detail, meticulous preparation, and collaborative approach were immediately apparent, and I look forward to working with him to build a long and meaningful career together.”
Jonathon said: “I am truly excited to start this new collaboration with Derek and the dynamic IMG Artists team at what is a pivotal time in my career. The dedication and support that they have to offer is inspiring and I look forward to a developing this working relationship for many years to come.”
Jonathon Heyward first trained as a cellist and chamber musician. He began his conducting studies with Andrew Altenbach at the Boston Conservatory before completing his post graduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Sian Edwards. In 2013, at the age of 21, he became the youngest ever semi-finalist at the Blue Danube International Opera Conducting Competition. This was soon followed by his appointment as Associate Director of London’s Hampstead Garden Opera Company. Additional positions include Assistant Conductor for both the Boston Conservatory and the Boston Opera Collaborative.
Recent and forthcoming highlights include debut engagements with the Seattle, Atlanta, Detroit, Oregon, Flanders and Osaka symphonies; BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Brussels Philharmonic; Staatskapelle Hallé; Württembergisches Kammerorchester; Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa in Lisbon; Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne; Orchestre National des Pays de Loire; South Netherlands Philharmonic; and the Het Gelders Orkest.
