Continuo Connect — Profile // Jack Gonzalez-Harding

British conductor and keyboardist Jack Gonzalez-Harding is gaining attention for his ‘brilliant infectious enthusiasm.’ (The Spectator)

Jack has made recent debuts at the Wigmore Hall, Barbican Centre’s Milton Court Concert Hall and St John’s Smith Square where he directed Bach’s B Minor Mass from the harpsichord. Deemed an ‘outstandingly gifted musician’ (Zoé Martlew, composer and BBC TV/Radio 3 presenter), Jack has forged collaborative relationships with leading soloists such as Dame Emma Kirkby, Nicholas Daniel OBE, Mary Bevan MBE and Fenella Humphreys. During 2024, Jack’s work at the harpsichord focuses on Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations, which he’ll tour throughout the U.K.

He also presents a series called ‘musical offerings’ at Sands Films Music Room, Rotherhithe. Highlights of the series include Jack’s collaboration with musician, painter and film maker Hugo Max on Bach’s Sonatas for viola de gamba and harpsichord, with Beth Stone of Flutes and Frets for Bach’s Sonatas for flute and continuo and the première of a new work for harpsichord by polymath David Gordon.

Increasingly in demand as an assistant conductor, recent and upcoming work includes projects with with Sir Mark Elder, Jonathan Cohen, London Symphony Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, Arcangelo, and in Italy with Fondazione Haydn. Recently, Jack’s debut with the London Mozart Players resulted in a swift return. Jack made his Southbank Centre Queen Elizabeth Hall debut conducting the Purcell School Symphony Orchestra. He is the Principal Conductor of the Mayfield Festival Orchestra.

Born in Kent in 2003, Jack began his musical education studying the organ as a junior exhibtioner at the Royal Academy of Music before going onto the Purcell School and Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he is currently studying for an Artist Masters, aided by a full scholarship. At the GSMD, he studies with Carole Cerasi and James Johnstone. Previous tutors include Pierre Hantaï and David Gordon. Jack studies conducting with John Carewe.