Jonathan was given the opportunity to learn the trombone for free in school at age 7 and immediately found himself immersed in the Gwent Music Support Service and the South Wales Brass Band scene. By age 15 he was principal trombone of the BTM Band and shortly after the National Youth Orchestra and Brass Band of Wales.
In 1997 Jonathan won a foundation scholarship to study at the Royal College Music with Arthur Wilson, and in the same year was appointed as principal trombone of the Brighouse and Rastrick band. Jonathan was part of the band that held the National, European and All England Masters titles in 1998. Moving North from London Jonathan transferred to the Royal Northern College of Music to continue his studies with Andrew Berryman and i his second year made his professional debut with the Halle Orchestra. Soon after, in his 3rd year was appointed Principal Trombone with the Remix Ensemble Casa da Musica where he remained until 2003.
On returning to the UK to pursue a freelance career Jonathan worked as a guest principal trombone with most UK orchestras including the Hallé, Philharmoina, English National Opera and BBC National Orchestra of Wales and took his first conducting appointments with Pontypool band and occasional duties at Tredegar and BTM Bands.
In September 2007 Jonathan joined the Central Band of the Royal Air Force where he played principal trombone and lead trombone in the RAF Squadronaires , as well as performs occasional conducting duties until April 2015. Jonathan continued to work as often as he could outside the RAF, deputising with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Opera North, English National Opera and was the Musical Director of the Staines Band. He was also Principal Trombone of the Desford Colliery Band.
Since re-joining the freelance music scene in 2015 he has worked with the RPO, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Bergen Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, English National Opera, Manchester Camerata, The Madness, The Who, Steve Hackett, Lea Salonga, Sheridan Smith, Max Boyce and on the west end show Charlie and the Chocolate factory.
Jonathan has conducted recording sessions with the English Session Orchestra, West One Music and Sony, a tour to Vietnam with the Desford Colliery Band and held the position of assistant Musical Director and 1st trombone/euphonium for the Cameron Macintosh production of Half a Sixpence in London’s West End 2016/17.
As a soloist Jonathan has been featured on the BBC Listen to the Band programme no less than 6 times, was soloist on the 2015 Gavin Higgins and Tredegar band award winning album ‘Dark Arteries’ and had been guest soloist with the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales and at the Lithuanian National Band Championships. Jonathan’s Berio Sequenza V is featured on the Royal Air Force Music album “Going Solo” and currently has new concertos from the pen of Bill Connor and Gareth Trott in development.
Jonathan is currently the Musical Director of the Kidlington Band, Raunds Temperance Band and is an assistant conductor at Desford Colliery Band. He is also Professor of trombone at the London College of Music, Head of a trombone studies for the British Army (London District) and is an examiner for the online music exam board “MTB”.
Jonathan lives in Ayelsbury with his partner Beth Calderbank, his 15 year old Bradley and 11 month old Arthur.
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