About
Jonathan Hope has built a reputation, both at home and abroad, as one of the most exciting organists of his generation.
In his hometown of Guildford, Jonathan studied initially with Stephen Lacey, John Belcher and David Sanger, and then at the Royal College of Music, London with Margaret Phillips and Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin (improvisation).
Jonathan became Assistant Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral in 2014, where he is the principal organist for cathedral services, director of the Cathedral Youth Choir, Accompanist to the Gloucester Choral Society, Artistic Director of the Saint Cecilia Singers, and Festival Organist for the Gloucester Three Choirs Festivals.
Before coming to Gloucester, Jonathan was Organ Scholar of Winchester Cathedral (under Andrew Lumsden) where he played at the funeral of the composer Sir John Tavener. Before that, Jonathan was Organ Scholar of Southwark Cathedral (under Peter Wright), playing at services for the 2012 London Olympics and HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
In demand as an organ recitalist, Jonathan’s solo career to date has taken him throughout the UK and Europe, as well as to the USA and Australia. He frequently improvises to silent movies, and has also arranged several orchestral works for the organ.
Through his annual involvement in the Three Choirs Festival, Jonathan plays alongside the Philharmonia Orchestra and has worked with guest conductors such as Simon Halsey, Martyn Brabbins, Sir Andrew Davis and Edward Gardner. He also frequently plays alongside orchestras such as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the English Symphony Orchestra, the Corelli Orchestra, and the British Sinfonietta, and has accompanied renowned choirs such as Ex Cathedra and the BBC National Chorus of Wales, among others. He has performed live several times on BBC Radio 3 and 4, and in August 2023 made his BBC Proms debut, performing alongside BBCNOW in Holst’s The Planets.
Jonathan has released three solo recordings and appeared in numerous others. In 2015 he released his first solo disc, Gloucester Experience (Willowhayne), featuring Reubke’s Sonata on the 94th Psalm. In 2016 he released a DVD, The Grand Organ of Gloucester Cathedral, with Priory (featuring his own transcription of Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice). Jonathan's third recording, Redcliffe Experience (Willowhayne), was released in 2019, featuring new works by Neil Cox and Cecilia McDowall, and transcriptions of music by Brahms and Elgar.
“Those who know and admire Jonathan Hope’s profound artistry will be delighted with this disc, abounding as it does in playing that is lyrical and virtuosic by turn in equal measure.”
Review of ‘Redcliffe Experience’ (Simon Lindley, Cathedral Music)