Praised for his “power and finesse” (Boston Classical Review) and “exacting milieus” (Boston Globe), percussionist Jonathan Hess is the principal timpanist for the Handel and Haydn Society (Boston), Boston Baroque, Teatro Nuovo (NYC) and Bach Akadamie Charlotte. He also performs regularly throughout Greater Boston with some of the region’s premier organizations including the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, A Far Cry, Celebrity Series, Odyssey Opera, Aston Magna, Blue Heron and the Connecticut Early Music Festival. A founding member of both the Boston Percussion Group and the soprano-percussion duo BeatSong with soprano Sonja Tengblad. Jonathan is a keen advocate for new music and an active participant in expanding the percussion repertoire through inventive new commissions and collaborations. In addition to his versatility and command as a performer, Jonathan is also a dedicated and passionate educator, currently teaching percussion at the College of the Holy Cross. Jonathan is a graduate of St. Olaf College and the Boston Conservatory. He is a member of Beyond Artists and supports Friends of the Boundary Waters with his performances.