Born in 1991 in Singapore, Jonathan started piano lessons at the age of 4 at Yamaha Music School. Jonathan performed twice at the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) High Scorers' Concerts - for Grades 7 and 8. At the age of 11, he passed his ABRSM Grade 8 Theory of Music with Distinction and was the top scorer in Singapore. Aged 13, he obtained DipABRSM in Piano Performing, and acquired Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) in Piano Performing with Distinction the following year. In addition, Jonathan was 1 of only 3 candidates among those from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore to score a Distinction that year. Jonathan's former teachers include Benjamin Loh, Yeo Kian Boon, Ong Sor Kuan, Rickie Oui and John Sharpley. He has also taken masterclasses with Albert Tiu, Barry Snyder, Robert Langston, and Jeremy Monteiro.

 

Jonathan has performed extensively both locally and overseas. In 2004, at the age of 13, Jonathan made his concerto debut peforming the Schumann Piano Concerto with the Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra. In 2005, he performed Grieg's Piano Concerto with the Melbourne Grammar School Symphony Orchestra, at Victoria Concert Hall. In 2006, Jonathan made his Esplanade performance debut; he performed Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of maestro Lan Shui, for the President's Young Performers' Series. He made his solo recital debut under the Hale Visiting Artists' Program in Perth, Australia. Jonathan was also the solo pianist at the 2012 Singapore National Day Parade and performed the National Day theme song live in front of a nationwide audience.

 

An Alumnus of Nanyang Primary School, Raffles Institution and Raffles Junior College, Jonathan has also taken part in numerous national and international piano competitions and succeeded in clinching top prizes while managing his academic pursuits. At 10 years old, Jonathan won first prize in the Junior Piano Category of the Singapore National Piano and Violin Competition. Jonathan's other achievements include the Silver prize in the 2nd ASEAN Chopin International Competition, 2nd prize in the Trinity College London Music Competition, 3rd prize in the 2006 Cristofori Piano Competition and 3rd prize in the Individualis Independent International Music Competition in Ukraine.

 

Jonathan is a graduate of Singapore Management University and conducts piano and music theory lessons in his Upper Serangoon music studio. His goal is to nurture aspiring musicians and develop their potential, while instilling in them a lifelong love and passion for music.