I’m truly honored and excited to be named a finalist for Music Director of my hometown orchestra, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Growing up in the Hartford region, I dreamed of one day leading our HSO, which gives this city its heartbeat, and it means a great deal to be at this point in the journey. I’m looking forward to returning to lead the orchestra in a program I care deeply about, reconnecting with the Hartford community, and spending time in the arts culture that helped shape who I am. I’m excited to see family, meet new people, and share music with Hartford as we continue this exciting process together.

Jonathan Taylor Rush, hailed as “a continually rising talent in the conducting world” by the Baltimore Sun, brings passion, unique interpretation, and a refreshing energy to the orchestral experience. Rooted in his musical upbringing within the church, Rush’s approach to conducting is imbued with elements of gospel and soul music, drawing inspiration from the emotions evoked by the music itself as well as the enthusiasm from the audiences that gather to hear it.

A Connecticut native, previous conducting engagements include performances with the likes of Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Hartford Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, Nairobi Philharmonic, and Washington National Opera.

The 25/26 season includes Rush’s subscription debut with Nashville Symphony and his European orchestra debut with Danish Philharmonic, in addition to performances with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, and Minnesota Orchestra.

Rush is deeply committed to the music of both contemporary and historical Black composers, and champions programs that highlight and celebrate their cultural legacy. From the works of William Grant Still, Florence Price, and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor to premieres by today’s powerful voices such as Carlos Simon, Jessie Montgomery, and James Lee III, Rush sees the orchestra as a space where history and innovation meet, and relishes the opportunity to root the canonical greats in the meaning of today, pairing living artists’ compositions with works from the likes of Stravinsky, Brahms, and Beethoven.

As well as the traditional classical canon, Rush welcomes creative powerhouses from other genres to the orchestral stage, and sees these collaborations as an opportunity to invite new audiences into the symphonic sphere. Previously, he has worked with top artists such as Jon Batiste, Common, Cypress Hill, Leslie Odom Jr, hip hop writer/performer Wordsmith, singer songwriter Ledisi, rapper Big Freedia, Darin Atwater, and Karen Clark Sheard.

Rush was named Assistant Conductor, and was later promoted to Associate Conductor, of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra from 2020 to 2023. At Baltimore Symphony, he curated the orchestra’s inaugural Gospel Fest, bringing acclaimed Gospel voices and choirs to the Symphony Hall. While with the Baltimore Symphony, Rush also served as Artistic Director of the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras. As Artistic Director, Rush led the ensemble on its first-ever international tour through Europe, showcasing their talents at renowned venues such as Dvorák Hall in Prague.

Recording highlights include the world premiere of Carlos Simon’s brea(d)th with Minnesota Orchestra and Marc Bamuthi Joseph, released on Decca Classics in 2023. He recently also conducted the recording of Simon’s Monuments with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, released as an installation throughout the city of Washington, DC in January 2026. Rush also conducted the Louisiana Philharmonic for Big Freedia’s album Live at the Orpheum Theatre, released in 2024.

His academic accomplishments include a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The Ohio State University and a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. Jonathan’s Mentors and teachers of conducting are Joseph Young, Mei-Ann Chen, and Marin Alsop.