Jonathan Hope

Jonathan Hope is Organ Scholar of Southwark Cathedral, in the heart of central London, where he works with the cathedral's organists Peter Wright and Stephen Disley in conducting and accompanying the cathedral's four choirs, and playing the cathedral's sumptuous 4-manual 1897 T. C. Lewis organ, one of the UK's highest acclaimed instruments. Whilst at Southwark, he has broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. Prior to Southwark, Jonathan was for two years Organist and Director of Music at John Keble Church, Mill Hill, in the northern suburbs of London.

Born in 1988 and brought up in Guildford, Surrey, Jonathan was educated at the town's George Abbot School. During this time, his teachers were Stephen Lacey and then John Belcher.

Alongside his post at Southwark, Jonathan has been an undergraduate student at the Royal College of Music (London) since 2007, where he studies with Margaret Phillips and Sophie-Veronique Cauchefer-Choplin, and has also participated in masterclasses with Pieter van Dijk, Gordon Stewart and Dame Gillian Weir. While at the RCM, Jonathan has performed in a number of College events, including performing Karlheinz Stockhausen's Trans with the RCM Symphony Orchestra in London's Southbank Centre, under the baton of Diego Masson. Jonathan also took part in a performance of Bach's Trio Sonatas BWV 525, 526 and 527 for a College lunchtime recital run in conjunction with the early music group Floreligium and the RCM Historical Performance Department.

As a solo recitalist, Jonathan performs regularly both in the UK and abroad. Recently he has performed at Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral, as well as in France, Germany, Chicago, New York City, Sydney and Melbourne. Plans for the 2010/2011 academic year include proposed return visits to the Chicago area in April 2011, and back to Sydney and Melbourne in July/August 2011, as well as performances at Westminster Abbey and Saint-Sulpice, Paris. As a continuo player, Jonathan has taken part in performances of many of the Bach cantatas and Handel oratorios, including Bach's St. John Passion.

Jonathan's interests outside of music include English literature of all types, architecture, long walks, fine wine and dining, regional ales, and is an unashamed supporter of Manchester United FC.

Jonathan's fiancee is the Italian-Australian soprano Allegra Giagu, with whom he currently lives in London.