This weekend, Jonathon Heyward makes his debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra on Saturday 13 January at Royal Festival Hall. The programme features the works of Academy Award-winning composer John Williams, with music from the film scores of Superman, The Adventures of TinTin, Cinderella Liberty and Harry Potter. Star violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter will perform the UK premiere of Williams’ Violin Concerto No. 2, and the evening concludes with Bernstein’s Suite from On the Waterfront. More information and tickets are available here.
Jonathon’s recent and future guest conducting highlights in the United Kingdom include debuts and re-invitations with the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Symphony, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, The Hallé in Manchester, National Symphony Orchestra in Dublin, and Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Jonathon is forging a career as one of the most exciting conductors on the international scene. He currently serves as Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Chief Conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, and will become Renée and Robert Belfer Music Director of Lincoln Center’s Summer Orchestra in summer 2024. Jonathon’s many recent debuts continue with the Hamburg Symphoniker and Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia in April 2024.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Jonathon began his musical training as a cellist at the age of ten and started conducting while still at school. He studied conducting at the Boston Conservatory of Music, where he became assistant conductor of the prestigious institution’s opera department and of the Boston Opera Collaborative, and he received postgraduate lessons from Sian Edwards at London’s Royal Academy of Music. Before leaving the Academy, he was appointed assistant conductor of the Hallé Orchestra, where he was mentored by Sir Mark Elder, and became Music Director of the Hallé Youth Orchestra. In 2023, he was named a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music; an honour reserved for Academy alumni.
Jonathon’s commitment to education and community outreach work deepened during his three years with the Hallé and has flourished since he arrived in post as Chief Conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie in January 2021. He is equally committed to including new music within his imaginative concert programmes.
Photo Credit: Laura Thiesbrummel
