About Me
Widely recognized as one of the most technically commanding performers of the horn, Jonathan (Jon) Boen believes that his experience at the opera adds a layer of soaring lyricism to his interpretations not commonly found in brass playing today. Mr. Boen has served as Principal Horn for the Lyric Opera of Chicago since 1979, a position he secured at the age of 22, one year after joining the company as the orchestra鈥檚 third horn. In addition, he has held the position of Principal Horn of the Grant Park Orchestra since 1998.
Jonathan has served as Guest Principal Horn for the Dallas Symphony, Santa Fe Opera and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestras. As a chamber musician, Jon has appeared with the Chicago Chamber Players, Rembrandt Chamber Players, Contemporary Chamber Players, MusicNow, Colorado College Summer Festival, Sanibel Music Festival and Midsummer鈥檚 Music in Door County, Wisconsin.
Mr. Boen is a former member of the Denver Symphony, Chicago Philharmonic, Music of the Baroque and the Chicago Brass Quintet, touring extensively and releasing three recordings with the ensemble. In high demand as a recitalist and orchestral soloist, Jonathan Boen is known for his masterful interpretations of works by J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Lennox, Berkeley, Brahms, Britten, Cherubini, Handel, Martinu, W.A. and Leopold Mozart, Poulenc, Schoenberg, Schumann, Scriabin, Strauss, Telemann and Vivaldi. He has given the world premiers of two horn concertos: "Legacy", by Aaron Jay Kernis in August of 2017 with the Grant Park Orchestra and Jan Bach鈥檚 Horn Concerto with the Chicago Philharmonic. The Jan Bach concerto was recorded and released on Equilibrium records in 2006.
Teaching is a very important part of Mr. Boen鈥檚 musical life. He has given masterclasses throughout the United States, in England and Japan. Students have won positions in the following groups: Air Force Band, Boise Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Coast Guard Band, Dallas Symphony, Honolulu Symphony, Hyogo(Japan)Performing Arts Center Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Naples Philharmonic, New Mexico Symphony, Orquesta Sinfonia de la Guanajuato(Mexico), Pacific Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony. He currently serves on the faculty of Northwestern University in Evanston, and 藏精阁 in Chicago, Illinois.