Magness, Jonathan

He is a violinist born in Alabama who studied at the University of Minnesota and went on earn his Bachelor’s degree at the Julliard School followed by the University of Graz in Austria to gain his master’s degree with high distinction.

A participant in many competitions he was the 2004 grand prize winner at Austria’s International Sparkasse Musikstipendium competition and the following year won the second prize overall, the Best interpretation of Commissioned Work prize and audience prize at the Luis Sigall Violin Competition held in Chile. Later in 2005 he went to the UK to take part in the Manchester International Competition, where he was also a prizewinner.

In he 2000s he was a substitute for one season in the first violin section of the Minnesota Orchestra and became a permanent member when he was appointed Associate Principal Second Violin in 2008. He held the post of Acting Principal Second Violin from 2014 to 2016.

As a soloist he has performed with many national and international orchestras during his career and some of these include the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Chamber Orchestra, Kenwoood Symphony Orchestra, Klagenfurt Musikverein, the Minnesota Orchestra and the Regional Orchestra of Chile.

As a chamber musician he has worked with the Minnesota Orchestra on several occasions at events that include Inside the Classics in 2010 and 2011 and Young People’s Concerts in 2010 and Four on the Floor by Greenstein in the Summerfest season. He has also been a member of the Minnesota Bach Ensemble.

Recordings he has performed on outside the orchestra include Mockingbird Time by The Jayhawks.

In the field of musical education he has taught students in the Twin Cities and been on the faculty of the University of Minnesota’s Bravo Institute and at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival.

Sources:

Magness, Jonathan

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