Jonathan Hennessey-Brown: Cello

Jonathan Hennessey-Brown gained his musical education at Guildford Cathedral Choir, The Junior Academy of Music and the National Youth Orchestra. He graduated from the Royal College of Music with Honours in 1997.

As a chamber musician he has performed live on BBC Radio 3 and 4 on various occasions. He was the founder member of Santiago Quartet who performed at the Purcell Room, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Mexico City, Guildford Spring Music Festival and across the BBC and on Classic FM.

Jonny held the second cello chair with Carl Rosa Opera Company for two years, and the principal cello chair in the Yucatan Symphony in Mexico for six. Since returning to the UK, he has worked with many orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, Oxford Philharmonic, Bath Philharmonic and Northern Ballet. Jonny has had the privilege of working with a diverse array of musicians such as Placido Domingo, Renee Flemming, Evelyn Glennie, Little Mix, Cuban Ballet and The Wanted. He performed regularly in London’s West End show The Lion King. He also played in the Drury Lane production of Oliver and in the 25th Anniversary Tour of Les Miserables. Jonny played on several studio sessions at Abbey Road including for Spiderman and Downton Abbey.

Jonny was a member of the studio orchestra for live performances on ITV of the show “Pop star to Opera star” and has played live on radio 3’s “The Verb” with Ana Silvera. Solo performances include an appearance with The Wanted on BBC Radio One’s “Live Lounge” with Fern Cotton. Jonny has appeared on Strictly and X-Factor. He has also performed in all the Arenas of the U.K. on 3 tours with Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds.

In 2019 Jonny formed Hennessey Brown Music Jonny has been creating events to support mental health charities for over 15 years. He was diagnosed with Bipolar One in 1993 and is 9 years sober thanks to a 12 step programme.