Jonathan is a Perth-born percussionist, composer and performer who prides himself on interdisciplinary collaboration and vibrant, engaging music-making. In 2026, Jonathan commences his second year at ANAM under the guidance of percussion tutors Peter Neville and John Arcaro. In 2025, he was awarded the ANAM prize for Most Outstanding Performance of a Contemporary Work in an ANAM Recital for his performance of Frank Zappa’s The Black Page.
Jonathan graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) with First Class Honours, studying under former Cirque du Soleil percussionist Marcus Perrozzi and Australian percussion legend Tim White OAM. During his time at WAAPA, he was a two-time recipient of the Luigi Paolino award for excellence in percussion and received the Norman Archibald percussion scholarship in 2024. Jonathan’s honours dissertation focussed on choreomusicology, a field of study on the interaction between music and dance and the collaborative processes between choreographer and composer.
Jonathan’s musical experiences have ranged from colliding cymbals with the Australian Youth Orchestra, to musically directing theatre shows at WAAPA, including improvising and performing on stage with the actors. He performed with and composed for the award-winning Defying Gravity percussion ensemble from 2021 - 2024, undertaking tours to the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Indianapolis, and to the Xinghai Conservatory and Nanjing University of the Arts in China.
Jonathan has a passion for collaborating in the worlds of theatre and dance. He played solo drum kit in the Australian premiere of French choreographer Didier Theron’s work Atalantes in 2023 and composed for Natalie Allen’s collaborative contemporary work In the Closet in 2024. He has scored for plays with acclaimed Australian theatre directors such as Matt Edgerton, Clara Voda, Shane Anthony and Candy Bowers.
FROM: WA. Lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people.
Jonathan is supported by ANAM Syndicate donors Andrew Blanckensee, Annie Chapman, John and Sue North.
Photo by Pia Johnson