Jonathon Heyward

Music Director

Browse All Upcoming Concerts with Music Director Jonathon Heyward

Jonathon Heyward, Music Director

On October 15, 2025, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announced a three-year contract extension for Jonathon Heyward, BSO Music Director and Harvey M. and Lyn P. Meyerhoff Chair, ensuring his artistic leadership through the 2030-31 Season. The renewal builds upon a transformative relationship that has redefined the BSO’s role as both an artistic and community leader throughout Maryland and beyond.

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2025-26 Concerts Conducted by Music Director Jonathon Heyward

  • Gala
  • Heyward’s Triumphant Beethoven
  • BSO Skel-ebration Family Day
  • Symphonie Fantastique (Tales of Poe)
  • Brahms & Haydn with Heyward
  • Casual Conversations: Brahms & Haydn with Heyward
  • Rachmaninoff & Shostakovich
  • The Rite of Spring (EARTH | Songs)
  • Casual Conversations: Heyward Conducts Mahler (EARTH | Songs)
  • Sheku Kanneh-Mason & Heyward
  • Heyward Conducts Enigma Variations
  • Aspects of America
  • Verdi’s Rigoletto Conducted by Heyward
  • Star Spangled 250! at Oregon Ridge

Browse All Upcoming Concerts with Music Director Jonathon Heyward >

Jonathon Heyward is one of the most exciting conductors on the international scene today. He is Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Renée and Robert Belfer Music Director of the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center. Jonathon previously completed a four-year tenure as Chief Conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie.

Recent and future guest conducting highlights in the United Kingdom include debuts and re-invitations with the London Philharmonic, London Symphony, BBC Symphony, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Academy of Music, and Scottish Chamber Orchestra. In continental Europe, Jonathon recently made distinguished debuts with NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester and Danish National Symphony. Other guest conducting highlights include collaborations with the Castilla y León Symphony, Galicia Symphony and Brussels Philharmonic.

In high demand in the USA, and in addition to his Music Director positions, Jonathon conducts prominent orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Seattle, Dallas, and St Louis symphonies, the Minnesota Orchestra, NSO Washington, and Chicago Symphony at Ravinia Festival.

Jonathon made his Royal Opera House debut with Hannah Kendall’s Knife of Dawn. He has also conducted Kurt Weill’s Lost in the Stars with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the world premiere of Giorgio Battistelli’s opera, Wake for the Birmingham Opera Company.

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Jonathon studied conducting at the Boston Conservatory of Music and London’s Royal Academy of Music. In 2023, he was named a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music; an honour reserved for Academy alumni.

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