SOLOIST | CONDUCTOR | EDUCATOR
'An excellent British soloist with a fluent lyrical style'
Gramophone
biography
Jonathan Williams is one of the best known horn players of his generation.
Born in Hertfordshire to Welsh parents, he studied at the Royal Northern College of Music with the legendary Sydney Coulston and whilst still a student was invited to play with the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra alongside Maurice Murphy.
Jonathan has been soloist with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe at The Proms, the Barbican and throughout Europe under conductors such as Paavo Berglund, Ivan Fischer, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Yehudi Menuhin, Roger Norrington, Alexander Schneider and Claudio Abbado.
He has appeared as concerto soloist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra, London Mozart Players and Northern Sinfonia.
With Neil Mackie Jonathan gave the first performance in Poland of the Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings by Benjamin Britten in the presence of Peter Pears. He performed the Ligeti Horn trio in the presence of the composer who expressed his satisfaction with Jonathan's virtuoso playing of that very challenging horn part.
'Brilliantly extrovert' The Times
'Breathtaking lightness and mellowness of tone' The Independent
educator
For over 30 years Jonathan Williams has been a sought after horn teacher in Italy and internationally.
Students travel from far and wide to experience his sound which has often been compared to that of the great Dennis Brain. It is a sound with a beauty rarely heard - reminiscent of the legendary greats whilst remaining abreast of modern horn practice and technique.
Jonathan brings an ease to horn playing with his relaxed and effortless approach to embouchure and sound production, his razor sharp coordination and inspiring musicianship, with links back to Rachmaninov through his own teacher Sydney Coulston, his great mentor and guide.
TEACHING POSITIONS
Conservatorio Cesena
Fiesole School of Music
MASTERCLASSES
Omegna Brass School with Davide Citera
Italian Brass week
Minori Masterclass Course
Novara Masterclass Course
Corni ad Alta Quota with Allessio Allegrini
Masterclass Sassari
WIND AND BRASS ENSEMBLE CONDUCTING
Osaka Japan Horn Ensemble
Italian Brass week Tuscany with Barry Tuckwell
Royal Academy of Music Brass section coaching
Australian Youth Orchestra Brass
Australian Youth Orchestra Wind Ensemble
Brass Ensemble Belvedere Calabria
YOUTH ORCHESTRA COACHING
European Union Youth Orchestra
Jojoba Youth Orchestra Brazil
Australian Youth Orchestra
