Biography

Jonathan Okseniuk’s love for conducting and classical music began before he could walk. Playing the violin became a passion when he first saw an orchestra at the age of 19 months. Jonathan started violin at the age of three, followed by conducting and piano lessons. Jonathan made his violin debut in 2010, at the age of four performing at the Chandler Symphony Orchestra Holiday concert. In 2011, Jonathan conducted the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin. That same year, he was given his first opportunity to conduct his first full orchestra concert.

Jonathan also performed his first concerto with the Suprima Chamber Orchestra. In 2012, he was invited as a guest to conduct on the Anderson Cooper talk show. After winning a conducting competition, Jonathan made his debut with the Houston Symphony in 2013. After his performance, he was invited to return to the podium the following night. Later that year, he was invited to be a guest conductor of the Scottsdale Philharmonic and was asked to return as guest conductor. In 2013, Jonathan conducted the Arizona Musicfest Festival Orchestra at one of the rehearsals. In 2014 Jonathan performed at Bargemusic in New York City with the Suprima Orchestra. In 2015, on the violin, he performed with the Sun City Concert Band. That same year, Jonathan appeared on the TV show “Little Big Shots” conducting a string orchestra. Over the following five years, Jonathan has had the privilege to conduct and play violin solos with the St. Petersburg String Quartet, the Suprima Orchestra and the St. Petersburg International Music Academy. In February 2017, Jonathan made his debut as a soloist with the West Valley Symphony, and was asked to return to perform in 2019 and 2023. In the fall of 2016 Jonathan became a member of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony and served as principal second violin. In 2017, he won first place in the Phoenix Youth Symphony's fifty-seventh annual Young Musicians Competition in the Upper String Category, Junior Division. Jonathan won first place in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Scholarship Competition. He became Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony for the 2017/2018 season. He took second place in the Arizona Music Teachers National Association Junior Competition.

Jonathan is an award winning violinist whose performances and achievements have earned recognition at the state, national, and international levels. His success began early, winning first place in the Phoenix Youth Symphony Young Musicians Competition, Arizona State Music Teachers Association competitions, the Phoenix International Music Competition for Young Virtuoso, and the American String Teachers Association Arizona State Solo Competition. He also served as Principal Second Violin of the Youth Symphony of the Southwest and was named the Arizona MTNA Junior Strings Competition winner.
His accomplishments continued to grow with victories in the Arizona Musicfest Young Musicians Competition, the National Federation of Music Clubs Gwladys Comstock Award, and another first place finish in the Phoenix Youth Symphony Young Musicians Competition. In 2020, Jonathan was named the National Winner of the Music Teachers National Association Junior Performance String Competition.
In 2021, Jonathan was recognized as a Second Place Laureate in the prestigious Sphinx Competition Junior Division. He also won the Chandler Symphony Orchestra Youth Competition, the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, the Arizona Musicfest Young Musicians Competition Division II, and the National Federation of Music Clubs Stillman Kelley Award. His success continued in 2022 when he earned First Prize in the Junior Division of the Sphinx Competition, won the Phoenix Youth Symphony Young Musicians Concerto Competition Senior Division, and became the National Winner of the MTNA Senior String Competition.
As a soloist, Jonathan has appeared with numerous orchestras including The Phoenix Symphony under Tito Muñoz, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra under Robert Moody, the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra under Charles Latshaw, the Chandler Symphony Orchestra, the Arizona Musicfest Festival Orchestra, and the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra. In 2023, he won the Senior Division of the Dorothy Vanek Youth Concerto Competition and performed at the Mesa Arts Center as part of the Sphinx Competition Winner's Concert.
Jonathan has participated in several highly selective summer programs, including Morningside Music Bridge (2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024), the Heifetz International Music Institute (2021), and Chamber Music Northwest (2023).
In 2023, Jonathan was accepted into the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, where he studies with internationally renowned violinist Midori Goto. Over the past fourteen years, he has studied with Jing Zeng and has received guidance from distinguished artists and educators including Miriam Fried, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Margaret Batjer, Peter Oundjian, William van der Sloot, and Jan Sloman. His chamber music studies have included collaborations with the Dover Quartet and members of the Manhattan Chamber Players.
As of 2024, Jonathan collaborates with Allegro Music Consultants and continues to perform as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral artist. Throughout his career, he has worked with esteemed conductors including Robert Moody, Tito Muñoz, Linus Lerner, Charles Latshaw, Robert Franz, Boris Vayner, Gary Lewis, Donald Schleicher, Jim Ross, Matthew Kasper, Micah Gleason, Benoit Gauthier, and Cal Stewart Kellogg.
With a growing reputation for both technical excellence and musical artistry, Jonathan continues to establish himself as one of the most promising young violinists of his generation.

Biography

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