JONATHAN BONNY

Jonathan Bonny (he/they) is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and theater maker. He trained as a classical percussionist at the conservatories of Ghent, Helsinki, and The Hague and feels most at home in the interdisciplinary performing arts. As a composer, Jonathan creates work fueled by (queer) activism, blending influences from the classical music tradition with pop and electronic music. Jonathan’s work seeks a more socially just world and aims to be consistent in amplifying marginalized voices the most.

 

Since 2021, Jonathan has been developing as an independent (music theater) maker, a journey that also led to the creation of the alter ego JÓRMA. In JÓRMA’s gatherings, Jonathan’s original songs are performed in an interdisciplinary theatrical form. In addition to their work as a creator and performer, Jonathan has been a music design lecturer in the Music & Technology department at the Utrecht School of the Arts since 2023.

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Jonathan performed with HIIIT (previously known as Slagwerk Den Haag), Asko|Schönberg, Blindman[Drums], Ensemble KLANG, Club Guy&Roni, Opera-Ballet Vlaanderen, Orkater, and the Dutch National Opera. Compositions by Jonathan have been played by ensembles and musicians such as the Spectra Ensemble, Diamanda La Berge Dramm, Lunapark, Casco Phil, and DeCompagnie.

 

Jonathan has composed music for productions by Silbersee, Theater Sonnevanck, Boost Producties, PeerGroup, MoON Productions, Nic Bruckman, SuckerPunch Collective, The Midnight Specials, LIKEMINDS, Frascati, Dunja Jocic (Theater Osnabrück), Goggles (Theater Transparant) and the VPRO podcast Lopendebandwerk.

 

Jonathan directed the productions THEY/THEM (2023), BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY, RIGHT? (2023), NOORDERLICHT (2024), Let’s Be Real (2024), MIST (2025) and their most recent solo project YOU CHOOSE YOU LOSE (2025).

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Nominations, awards & development

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2012 - second price at Yamaha Benelux percussion concours 🏆

2014 - first price at Percussion Arts Society concours (cat. vibrafoon) 🏆

2016 - performance winning composition  (Stream for Marimba, Nikos Kokolakis) at TROMP international percussion composition concours

2018 - Spritzl audience price for Through The Valley (by Manuel Kiros Paolini, with music by Jonathan)  🏆

2020 - nomination 'Keep an Eye' award

2020-2023 Station Noord development trajectory for new makers

2021 - nomination 'introvert' for Rotterdam track of the year award

2022 - finals Sena Performers Grote Prijs van Rotterdam competition (cat. singer-songwriter)

2023 - winner open call Nieuw Geluid 🏆

2024 - Fringe at Best award for NOORDERLICHT 🏆

2024-2025 Rizoom Proeftuin development trajectory for new music makers (partners: Korzo, De Doelen)

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Photos: Jonathan Bonny, Anneroos Goosen, Knelis, Tessa Veldhorst