Jonathan Der, violinist, conductor, chamber musician and church organist has appeared as soloist with various orchestras, giving chamber and solo recital in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, New York, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. He has given master classes in respected Universities such as Wilfrid Laurier, McGill and Indiana. He was appointed the conductor of the Royal Conservatory Chamber Orchestra in Toronto and the Indiana University Summer String Festival Orchestra. Jonathan has attended the Medomak Music Festival for Conductors where he conducted the Maine Symphony Orchestra. He has adjudicated various music festivals such as BC Conservatory of Music Festival, North Shore Music Festival and Richmond Music Festival. Jonathan performs regularly with the Vancouver Chamber Players. He has been on faculty taught at the Thrive City Summer String Camp, North Shore Summer Academy and Indiana University Summer String Academy.
A Graduate of Bachelor of Music from McGill University and a Master Degree in Violin Performance from Indiana University, minor in conducting. Mr. Der was appointed Assistant Instructor of Prof. Mauricio Fuks where he was giving instruction to the graduate students. He studied chamber music with the distinguished Rostislav Dubinsky (first violinist of Borodin Quartet), Gyorgy Sebok and Leonard Hokinson. He founded the Burgandy Quartet which was recommended to be quartet in Residence with the Fine Arts Quartet.
Jonathan has played as concertmaster in several orchestras and had worked with world renowned conductors such as Maestro Kurt Mazur, Christophe Eschenbach and Myung-Whun Chung. He has served as the string department head of the Merriam School of Music in Oakville, Ontario. He is currently the associate conductor of the Richmond Delta Youth Senior String Orchestra, String Coach and Chamber Music Director. Mr. Der is an active community outreach participant. Over the years he has brought students to share their musical talents in Senior Centre, City Hall, YVR, Library, Chan Centre, Orpheum Theatre and many others venues.
On choral music scene, he currently holds the position of the Choir director/Organist at St. Anne’s Stevenston Anglican Church. He has conducted a number of Cantatas and Oratories with the Richmond United Church Chorus along with Richmond Delta Youth Chamber Orchestra. He is also an active choral clinician giving workshop to local community and church choirs.