Jonathan Vincent Bligh was born in Adelaide,
South Australia
in 1984. At age 11 he was awarded a two-year scholarship to
Exeter Cathedral School,
England,
as a boy chorister in the Cathedral Choir. He returned to Australia
in 1997 and took up another music scholarship at St Andrew’s
Cathedral School
in
Sydney
and sang treble in the choir until his voice broke in 1998.
He then returned to
Adelaide and
completed his secondary school education at
Marryatville
High School as a
Special Interest Music Student. In 2004 he completed his Bachelor of
Music at the Elder School of Music (University
of Adelaide)
for flute and conducting. That year he also obtained the Licentiate of
the Royal Schools of Music, London (LRSM). In 2006 he obtained his
Graduate Diploma of Education.
Whilst at university he sang in the University
Chamber Choir (Adelaide Voices),
The Elder Conservatorium Choral, the Conservatorium’s Jazz Choir (Adelaide
Connection) and held
the position of Bass Scholar in the St Peter’s Cathedral Choir for 2004
and 2005. Prior to being appointed Musical Director of the
Adelaider
Liedertafel 1858 he held the positions
of Assistant Conductor for the
Adelaide Male
Voice Choir and the
Hahndorf
Liedertafel Choir.
In October 2004 Jonathan conducted the choral finale of “A Goodlye Synge
IV” featuring the combined university choirs of over 200 voices in Elder
Hall. Early in 2005 Jonathan was the relief conductor of the choir at
Christ Church North Adelaide. Jonathan was a founding member of the
Barbershop Quartet Fourmal Attire.
Subsequently he established and tutored another Barbershop Quartet of
students from Charles
Campbell
Secondary School. This quartet was awarded
first place in the National Barbershop Schools’ Competition in Sydney in 2007.
The Adelaider Liedertafel
1858
is proud to have this talented young
musician as its
conductor. The disparity of his age relative to that of
the average ALT member has proved to be no barrier to producing good
music. He shows an enthusiasm rare in conductors of more mature years,
and the ALT looks forward to many more years of singing under his baton.