Classical Music

                                 
JONATHAN JOHNSTON

Jonathan from Co. Down, was born in1978, and began to play the flute at the age of 12. He was a student of the late William Dunwoody MBE with whom he studied for six years. During this time he gained a scholarship to James Galway’s International Flute Seminar in Switzerland, and subsequent scholarships were awarded by the Ian Gow Memorial Fund, the Princes Trust and the Arts Council. In 1995 Jonathan was the N. Ireland Young Musician of the Year and in 1996 he gained a place at the Royal Northern College of Music attaining his Bmus(Hons)RNCM degree in June 2000. Jonathan has recorded two Compact Discs of popular Irish music on the Outlet label. The first, ‘Favourite Irish Melodies’ was released in 2000 and the second, ’The Isle of Innisfree’ in December 2001, these played regularly on local radio, particularly by John Anderson, Brian D’Arcy and Walter Love.

His first light classical album, ‘Golden Inspirations’, was released in December 2002, this album largely comprised of favourite compositions, which are frequently included in Jonathan’s recital repertoire. On this album, the clarity and expressiveness of his playing, his beautiful natural singing tone and virtuosic technique is clearly demonstrated. He is a great favourite with his audiences, as a result of not only his playing, but also for his personal warmth and charm.

Jonathan has given numerous concerts and lunchtime recitals both in N. Ireland and on the UK mainland, local venues including Belfast Waterfront Hall and Hillsborough Castle and he has also performed live on BBC Radio Ulster. He played at the Leeds International Concert series in October and has in the pipeline, a number of bookings on the mainland, at festivals and for music societies. In N.Ireland, in January and February, he is booked to give recitals for Lisburn Arts Council , and Castlereagh Arts Council respectively. Over the past few months Jonathan’s freelance orchestral playing has given him the opportunity to have played with the Ulster,City of Birmingham, the London Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestras.