Jonathon has lead some of Australia ’s finest community choirs including the award-winning Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir to win the Australasian Choral Championships at the City of Sydney Eisteddfod. Recording and conducting Mythologia for the Olympic Cultural Festival with Graeme Murphy’s Sydney Dance Company; and recording and performing with k d lang and Jimmy Sommerville are amongst dozens of memorable performances.
With a deep commitment to the community and youth music education, Jonathon is also the Founding Director of the Sydney Street Choir for the homeless and disadvantaged and Australian Pop Choir and Pop Kidz appearing with them on the Today Show, Australian Story and Compass.
Jonathon has received a Community Services Award from South Sydney Council and has taught for the NSW Education Department’s Training Development Program and Southern Stars, David Aitken’s Studios and Brent Street and ED5 Studios. Many of his students have gone on to study and work in professional theatre and television around the world including members of High Five and Ajaqa, at NIDA, WAPA, Opera Australia and Canberra School of Music, Victorian College of the Arts, Australian Catholic University, and the Moulin, Paris.
Jonathon is the Founding Music Director for the Choir of Hard Knocks, proudly supporting the homeless and disadvantaged in Melbourne, leading them to perform sellout concerts at Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Town Hall and being awarded a Platinum ARIA for their first CD From the Heart.
As a result of his services to the Community Jonathon has also received a Commendation from the City of Melbourne, St Michael’s Medallion, John Campbell ‘MO’ Award along with nominations for News Limited’s Pride of Australia, Commonwealth Bank’s Local Hero and the Bar None Award from the Victorian Government.
In 2008 Jonathon was awarded RMIT Communicator of the Year, ANZAC of the Year and Victorian and Australian of the Year – Local Hero and an Honorary Doctor of Griffith University in Queensland.
