"leads the orchestra and singers in their performance of the complex score with precision and vitality" - Cape Cod Times
Born and raised in Middlesex, England, Jonathan Brennand's conducting has been praised by the Cape Cod Times for its "precision and vitality." In 2014, he was appointed Music Director of the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra, and is the orchestra’s second conductor in its 34-year history. He has expanded the orchestra's concert season and has increased audience attendance with dynamic programming.
Jonathan recently celebrated his 13th season with College Light Opera Company where he serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor. At College Light Opera he has garnered much praise from critics on his "commendable music direction" (Barnstable Patriot) and "inspired" (Cape Cod Times) interpretations of European and American operetta as well as classic American Musical Theater. In 2010, he was awarded a grant from the Victor Herbert Foundation to restore the score of the composer's comic opera Naughty Marietta. In August 2013, he was awarded the WISE Foundation's Conductor of the Year Award for his music direction and conducting of Die Fledermaus, which the Cape Cod Time described as "dynamic" and full of "technical prowess".
He is currently in his sixth season as Artistic Director of the Worcester Youth Orchestras, and conducts the 60 member Worcester Youth Symphony Orchestra (WYSO) and Worcester Youth Baroque Orchestra (WYBO), an orchestra he founded in 2014. In addition, he oversees the Preparatory Division, comprised of the Youth Philharmonic and String Orchestra, as well as an early instrumental program. He works with a staff over 9 faculty members, directors and coaches who help provide music education and orchestral training to over 250 students from central Massachusetts. Under his leadership, he has grown the Worcester Youth Orchestras from one ensemble to eight ensembles in just three years. In the 2015-2016 season, Jonathan started the Honors Chamber Music Program which is geared towards preparing high school students for their college music school auditions. In April 2014, he took WYSO on a trip to NYC to perform Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and Haydn’s Te Deum with the Drew University Chorale and Choral Union. During the 2016-2017 season, WYSO toured Vermont, New Hampshire, Montreal, Quebec City and Maine for a week long performance tour. In 2019 they toured the Czech Republic for 10 day tour to sold out performances.
In demand as a guest conductor and clinician he has conducted various MMEA festival orchestras, led performances of Mahler 4 at SUNY Purchase and NYC Opera Center with the Route 9 Ensemble, the Commonwealth Lyric Opera and Lucky Ten Studios, the WISE Foundation’s Columbus Day Festival Orchestra and Ip Piano School Annual Concerto Competition series at the Tsai Performing Arts Center. He has also worked with the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Symphony Orchestra and the Connecticut Valley Symphony Orchestra.
Prior study was an apprenticeship in Salzburg and Vienna under the tutelage of Heinz Ferlesch (BCF), BA in Music and History from Drew University and a MM in Orchestral Conducting from UMass Amherst.
Jonathan recently celebrated his 13th season with College Light Opera Company where he serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor. At College Light Opera he has garnered much praise from critics on his "commendable music direction" (Barnstable Patriot) and "inspired" (Cape Cod Times) interpretations of European and American operetta as well as classic American Musical Theater. In 2010, he was awarded a grant from the Victor Herbert Foundation to restore the score of the composer's comic opera Naughty Marietta. In August 2013, he was awarded the WISE Foundation's Conductor of the Year Award for his music direction and conducting of Die Fledermaus, which the Cape Cod Time described as "dynamic" and full of "technical prowess".
He is currently in his sixth season as Artistic Director of the Worcester Youth Orchestras, and conducts the 60 member Worcester Youth Symphony Orchestra (WYSO) and Worcester Youth Baroque Orchestra (WYBO), an orchestra he founded in 2014. In addition, he oversees the Preparatory Division, comprised of the Youth Philharmonic and String Orchestra, as well as an early instrumental program. He works with a staff over 9 faculty members, directors and coaches who help provide music education and orchestral training to over 250 students from central Massachusetts. Under his leadership, he has grown the Worcester Youth Orchestras from one ensemble to eight ensembles in just three years. In the 2015-2016 season, Jonathan started the Honors Chamber Music Program which is geared towards preparing high school students for their college music school auditions. In April 2014, he took WYSO on a trip to NYC to perform Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and Haydn’s Te Deum with the Drew University Chorale and Choral Union. During the 2016-2017 season, WYSO toured Vermont, New Hampshire, Montreal, Quebec City and Maine for a week long performance tour. In 2019 they toured the Czech Republic for 10 day tour to sold out performances.
In demand as a guest conductor and clinician he has conducted various MMEA festival orchestras, led performances of Mahler 4 at SUNY Purchase and NYC Opera Center with the Route 9 Ensemble, the Commonwealth Lyric Opera and Lucky Ten Studios, the WISE Foundation’s Columbus Day Festival Orchestra and Ip Piano School Annual Concerto Competition series at the Tsai Performing Arts Center. He has also worked with the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Symphony Orchestra and the Connecticut Valley Symphony Orchestra.
Prior study was an apprenticeship in Salzburg and Vienna under the tutelage of Heinz Ferlesch (BCF), BA in Music and History from Drew University and a MM in Orchestral Conducting from UMass Amherst.
Current Held PositionsMusic Director & Conductor
Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra (CT) Artistic & Executive Director The Worcester Youth Orchestras (MA) Conductor, Worcester Youth Symphony Orchestra Director, Worcester Youth Baroque Orchestra Principal Conductor & Music Director The College Light Opera Company (MA) |
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