Jonathon Heyward is forging a career as one of the most exciting conductors on the international scene. Currently in his first year as a Chief Conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, in summer 2021, Jonathon took part in an intense, two- week residency with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain which led to a highly acclaimed BBC Proms debut. He recently completed three years as Assistant Conductor of the Hallé Orchestra under mentorship of Sir Mark Elder. In recognition of his extensive community outreach work and commitment to music education as Music Director of the Hallé Youth Orchestra Jonathon received a finalist nomination for Young Creative of the Year at the Manchester Culture Awards 2018.

Jonathon Heyward’s recent and forthcoming highlights in the United Kingdom include debuts and re-invitations with the London Symphony, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony and Scottish Chamber Orchestra. In Europe, amongst Jonathon’s recent and future debuts are collaborations with the Castilla y León, Basel Symphony, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Brussels Philharmonic, Antwerp Symphony, Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Lahti Symphony, and St. Petersburg Symphony. In his native United States in the current and upcoming concert seasons, Jonathon looks forward to making debuts with the Baltimore, Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, San Diego, St. Louis and Oregon Symphony Orchestras and with the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. Following successful collaborations of past seasons, in 2022 Jonathon returns to Seattle Symphony and Grant Park Music Festival. In summer 2021, Jonathon made his Wolf Trap debut conducting the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington DC.

In 2013, Jonathon became the youngest ever semi-finalist at the Blue Danube International Opera Conducting Competition at the age of 21, and, soon after, was appointed Associate Director of the Hampstead Garden Opera Company in London. Winner of the 2015 Besançon International Conducting Competition, in 2016, he completed his postgraduate studies in conducting with Sian Edwards at the Royal Academy of Music. In the 2017-2018 season Jonathon was selected as a Los Angeles Philharmonic Dudamel Conducting Fellow, later stepping in to make his subscription debut with Hilary Hahn as part of the orchestra’s Bernstein @ 100 Celebration at Walt Disney Concert Hall.