Hailed as “a pianist with a brain…a strategist who has the distant grasp” (Alan Walker), Jonathan Levin is quickly establishing a reputation as an enthusiastic and compelling advocate for classical music, creating integrated programs that garner closer connections with audiences through illuminating discussion and example.
Bio
"Mr. Levin emerged as much more than a pianist, but a musician with a fine mind and enormously promising creative energy...showmanship, intelligence, more than ample pianism, and sensitive musicality are all wrapped up in one package in this young artist..."
- Rorianne Schrade, New York Concert Review
“Amazing facility...tremendous intelligence!”
- Peter Mack
Taylor Cooley Photography
Jonathan is Artistic Director and Founder of Clayton Piano Festival in Clayton, NC which seeks to create accessible, educational, world-class concerts and music presentations that uniquely enrich the cultural life of the area. The festival, which presented its 5th anniversary season of concerts, public classes, school outreach and other community events in the fall of 2016, aims to bridge the gap between performer and audience, bringing classical piano music to people of all ages and levels of exposure to the arts. For the past 7 years, he has been Musical Director of Natchez Festival of Music's Educational Outreach Program and in 2015 he was awarded the Key to the City of Natchez for his service to the town. A sought after collaborative pianist, Jonathan has appeared on the Vox Novus/RTB Composers Voice Concert Series and has worked closely with respected voice teachers Paul Sperry and Monica Harte.
As a lecturer/performer, Jonathan’s presentations and remarks on music have been described as “cogent and insightful” and “right on the money” (Classical Voice of North Carolina). His recent presentations have included programs devoted to single composers, including Liszt, Chopin, and Schumann and have illustrated the defining features of the composers, their influences, and personalities.
Born in North Carolina, Jonathan made his debut with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra when he was fifteen. Since then, he has become a sought after recitalist and soloist, performing throughout the country in concert halls, museums, universities, schools, libraries and private salons. Jonathan was recently chosen to present a special performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia as a part of the 4th Melody of Generations Festival with the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Federation. Other recent engagements have included performances at Carnegie Hall, the Dame Myra Hess Concert Series at the Chicago Cultural Center, The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, Steinway Hall, New York Society for Ethical Culture, Brooklyn Public Library, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland and the Kosciusko Foundation in Manhattan. Jonathan has played solo recitals and taught masterclasses all across the country including engagements in North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Nevada, Florida,Washington State, California and also in Ontario, Canada. He has performed with the Durham
Symphony, the North Carolina Symphony and as a returning guest artist with the Raleigh Symphony as well as appearances at the NC Governor’s Mansion and the NC Museum of Art. In addition, Jonathan has been a laureate of many competitions and prizes including the National Stillman-Kelley Award, 2nd Prize at the 2012 Los Angeles International Liszt Competition and recipient of the Alan Walker Award from the American Liszt Society. Most recently he was awarded 2nd Prize at the George Gershwin Brooklyn International Music Competition as well as a special prize for Best Performance of American Music. Jonathan made his solo recital debut at Carnegie’s Weill Hall on September 20, 2016 presenting his new program intitled "American Portraits."