Jonathan Clarke

Jonathan’s professional career began aged 23 in 2001 when he was appointed Principal Trumpet with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic. He performed weekly at the famous venue the Concertgebouw under conductors such as Alexander Lazarev, Jaap van Zweden, Gennadi Rhozdestvensky, Hans Werner Henze, John Adams and the late Hans Vonk.         

He was later appointed Principal with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra where he stayed from 2003 to 2010. In this time, he had the pleasure of performing all the core Orchestral repertoire and much of the larger Operatic repertoire, with major conductors including Charles Dutoit, David Zinman, Edo De Waart, Jaap Van Sweden, David Atherton and Mark Elder.   He was featured regularly as a soloist with the HKPO including performances of Telemann’s Concerto in D, and the Shostakovich’s Piano and Trumpet Concerto with Martin Roscoe. He also featured as a soloist and guest Principal with other Orchestras in the region, and was the trumpet professor for the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. 

Hailing originally from Bridgend in South Wales, Jonathan first began his trumpet studies at the age of 8 through his local Big Band, the Bridgend College Orchestra.  He began lessons with the band leader William Davies, which began a lifelong passion for music.

Jonathan attended Pencoed Comprehensive School and became extensively involved in all the youth music of Mid Glamorgan and Wales. In 1996 he enrolled at Trinity College of Music where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree, studying modern and Natural Trumpet with Robert Farley. He went on to receive a postgraduate performance diploma from the Royal Academy of Music In 2001, where he studied with Ian Balmain, James Watson and John Wallace.

From 2010-2022, Jonathan enjoyed a diverse freelance career in London, regularly featuring with Orchestras throughout the UK and Europe.  Highlights include performances with the Royal Opera House Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, BBC NOW, Welsh National Opera, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, London’s West End Production of Les Miserables, BBC Scottish Symphony, Royal Scottish National, London Mozart Players, Britten Sinfonia, and many more. He also worked heavily in education teaching for Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s junior dept, and Kings College School London. In 2013 he was awarded and made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, London. 

In April 2022 he was appointed Principal Trumpet with Aalborg Symphony, and is thoroughly enjoying life here in Scandinavia.  He enjoys swimming, running (though he should do more), good food, language study and good company. 

He’s a proud husband to Rose Marie and father to their two children Rhys and Annie Rose.