International Competition for young conductors

Sunday September the 20th, the American Jonathon Heyward (23 years) won the Grand Prix of the 54th International Competition for Young Conductors in Besançon, conducting pieces of John Adams, Guillaume Connesson (world premiere) and Johannes Brahms. The young American seduced technically and emotionally the Jury chaired by Dennis Russell Davies. Jury took into account all the rounds since the 1/8 finals.

In 2013, after participating to the Competition Blue Danube Opera, Jonathon Heyward joined the world of orchestral conducting as associate conductor of the Hampstead Garden Opera. He became then the youngest semi-finalist in the history of the competition. He is currently enrolled at the Royal Academy of Music in orchestral conducting under the tutelage of Professor Sian Edwards. From 2012 to 2014, he studied at the Music Conservatory in Boston and was assistant conductor at the Conservatory Opera Department. In 2013, he became the music director of Boston opera for children. Jonathon is regularly guest of various ensembles in the cities of New York, Boston and London. As instrumentalist (cello), a former student of Andrew Mark, he obtained a degree in cello from the Boston Conservatory. Jonathon played in orchestras such as the Commonwealth Boston Lyric Theatre Orchestra and the New England Philharmonic. In Brilliant Mistakes (awared film), directed by Jonas Friedman, we can hear the work of the young soloist. Jonathon’s passion for teaching led him to positions in New Haven and New York.