Belfast-born Jonathan Byers studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London with David Strange, graduating in 2002. He then completed a two year post graduate course at the RAM, studying with Jennifer Ward-Clarke and Philip Sheppard.

Outside of his work with IBO, Jonathan works regularly with many orchestras and period instrument groups, including the Academy of Ancient Music, English Concert, Gabrielli Consort, The Sixteen, La Serenissima, Sonnerie, Early Opera Company, Camerata Ireland, RTE Symphony Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra. Last year he performed a concerto by CPE Bach with the Ulster Orchestra (a concert that was recorded by the BBC).

He was recently awarded the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Young Artist Platform Scheme award. This generous award enabled him to travel to the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for lessons with some of the finest baroque cellists in the world such as Jaap Ter Linden, Rainer Zipperling and Gaetano Nasilo.

He has recently given solo recitals in the Belfast and Malta, and in May 2007 travelled to perform at the Philip’s Collection in Washington DC.

Jonathan is also cellist in the Badke String Quartet. Recognised as one of the UK and Ireland’s leading young chamber ensembles, the Quartet has performed in many renowned chamber music venues such as the Wigmore Hall and Bridgewater Hall. Later this year they will make their Musikverein debut in Vienna. The Quartet regularly feature in festivals such as the West Cork, Verbier and Aldeburgh Festivals. Last summer saw the Quartet take 1st prize and the audience prize at the 5th Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition.

Jonathan plays on a c.1760 cello by John Johnson and a Tobin cello kindly loaned to him by the Royal Academy of Music Instrument Collection.