Jonathan Newell Artist Information

       Jonathan Newell graduated from Ithaca College in 1988 with a B.A. in Piano Performance and Art History.  He studied with Phiroze Mehta and performed in master classes with Andre Michel Shub and Paul Badura Skoda.  During his sophomore year he was chosen as a semi-finalist in the Young Keyboard Artist’s Association International Piano Competition.

After graduating from college he began teaching piano and guitar at Adirondack Community College.  He has written numerous piano pieces and songs and has worked as an accompanist with the Lake George Opera To-Go, The Adirondack Repertory Dance Theater, The New York State Summer School for the Arts Ballet School, The Skidmore College Dance Department, and the Union College Dance Department.    

Jonathan Newell was a 2002 recipient of the Individual Artist Grant from the New York State Decentralization Program and was named Artist of the Month for January 1997 and February 2004 by the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council.  His original compositions are influenced by the contrapuntal ideas of Bach and Brahms, the rhythms of Dance and the harmonies of modern popular music. 

The Rutland Herald in 1988 said of Mr. Newell; “In the showpiece of the afternoon, Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor, Newell ranged easily over chromatic scales and arpeggios, thunderous chords and dramatically hushed intervals, enhanced by excellent pedal work.”

From The Glens Falls Post-Star: “…much of the success of the (Adirondack Repertory Dance Theatre) concert is directly attributable to the superb accompanist Jonathan Newell.  Newell, an excellent pianist, infused the music with spirit and clarity.  His new “Celebration! (Signs of Life)” is a bold firecracker of a piece – a blistering explosion of cascading sound.”