Musical Biography

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Jonathan Bruce is born and bred in St Leonards on Sea, but he has played the organ in churches from the North West of England to Lautrec in the south of France.  Yet his musical apprenticeship was quite different.  From an early age he studied the ‘cello under Peter Allington, rising from primary school “orchestras’ to Master Classes with the late Adrian Shepherd, MBE.  He is currently Principal ‘Cellist with the Lewes Concert Orchestra, and with the Eastbourne Orchestral Society.  Both of these positions have now been held for over 25 years.  He plays the ‘Cello in many other orchestras around many counties,  ranging from the Lewes Concert Orchestra, Hastings Sinfonia, Eastbourne Concert Orchestra, Sussex Concert Orchestra to a string ensemble “Musicians of All Saints” in Lewes and also Principal 'Cello of the Festival Orchestra for the Hastings International Composers Festival since the inception back in 2012.  

For six years he studied musicianship at the Junior Department of Trinity College of Music, London where he also developed his pianoforte skills under Patricia Holmes, FTCL, GTCL, LRAM.  At St. Luke’s, Silverhill, St Leonards-on-sea the organist of fifty three years was Keith Apps, formerly a pupil of Vincent Batts.  In 1996 Keith took Jonathan under his wing, training him to be Assistant Organist, and upon Keith’s death in 2002 Jonathan stepped into the gap.  He now plays at different churches in Hastings, St Leonards and the Sussex area regularly. Also  he is the resident Organist with the Hastings Sinfonia.

In June 2012 he was MD for the Bexhill Light Operatic and Dramatic Society  (B.L.O.D.S) for a very successful award winning performance of “Aida” by Tim Rice and Elton John. Occasionally you can see him play in a pit band for various different shows put on by the Battle Light Opera Group and the Bexhill Lights Opera Dramatic Society and other groups in the South East.

Also he has composed and performed music for the International Composers Festival in Hastings since the inception of the event back in August 2012 as soloist and also as Principal ‘Cellist in the Festival Orchestra and now a regular with the London Gala Orchestra.

Recently he has helped to publish with the supervision of "The really Useful Company" Andrew Lloyd Weber's Piano Concerto arranged by Simon Proctor and Rowan Baker, also working with the Theory Department of ABRSM.   He frequently helps other composers with engraving their works fit for publishing and performances in various concerts around the world.

 Making, editing and playing Music is his passion he likes to share with others.

Also when he isn't performing he is a professional Photographer and Video Editor specifically in Landscape, Sport, Portrait and Stage Works.