Jonathon Adams

Jonathon Adams (born October 2, 1990) is a Cree-Métis (Nêhiyaw-Michif) baritone vocalist from Edmonton (amiskwaciwâskahikan). They specialize in early and baroque music.

Jonathon Adams
Born	(1990-10-02) October 2, 1990 (age 33)^[1] Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Occupation(s)	Baritone

Early life and education

Adams was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and raised by an adoptive white settler family.^[2] They attended secondary school at the Victoria School Of Performing And Visual Arts, graduating as part of the class of 2008.^[3] In their early twenties, Adams began to reconnect with their indigenous heritage, including their biological mother, who was from the Bigstone Cree Nation.^[4][5][6]

Adams would go on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (to pursue a Masters degree in Early Music vocals),^[3] and the Victoria Conservatory of Music in Victoria, British Columbia.^[4] They have also studied under the tutelage of Nancy Argenta, Emma Kirkby, and Edith Wiens.^[7][8]

Career

They have performed as a soloist alongside the San Francisco Symphony directed by Masaaki Suzuki, Philippe Herreweghe, and Sigiswald Kuijken. Adams has also performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, and the New York Philharmonic.^[9][10][11] They are a Netherlands Bach Society fellow.^[12][7][13]

They were invited to the University of Toronto as an Artist-in-Residence from 2022-2023 for the school's Early Music Department.^[7]

Adams is currently based in Montreal.^[4]

Personal life

Adams is two-spirit. They identify as non-binary^[14] and use they/them pronouns.^[15]

References

1. "Jonathon Adams (Baritone) - Short Biography".
2. Johnson, Rhiannon (May 16, 2021). "Cree-Métis baritone becomes 1st artist-in-residence at Early Music Vancouver". CBC News. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
3. "Jonathon Adams (Baritone) - Short Biography". www.bach-cantatas.com. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
4. "Baritone Jonathon Adams brings Indigenous and two-spirit identity to the classical world". Stir. June 10, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
5. "Indigenous Bodies/Indigenous Stories". Early Music Vancouver. July 5, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
6. Ivany, Joel. "Messiah/Complex Artist Spotlight: Jonathon Adams – Against the Grain Theatre". Retrieved December 26, 2022.
7. "Jonathon Adams". nyphil.org. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
8. "Les Voix Humaines Viol Consort with Jonathon Adams". KLONDIKE INSTITUTE OF ART & CULTURE. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
9. Barone, Joshua; Woolfe, Zachary (September 8, 2022). "Classical Music and Opera This Fall: 59 Programs, Premieres and More". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
10. Citron, Paula (April 1, 2021). "Against The Grain's 'Messiah/Complex' Makes A Welcome Return for Easter". Ludwig van Toronto. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
11. Hung, Andrew (July 27, 2021). "For This Cree-Métis Artist, Singing Bach Is 'an Act of Resistance'". The Tyee. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
12. "Jonathon Adams, 2021 Artist-in-Residence". Early Music Vancouver. May 16, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
13. "Jonathon Adams, Baritone". Schwalbe & Partners. December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
14. Ivany, Joel. "Messiah/Complex Artist Spotlight: Jonathon Adams – Against the Grain Theatre". Retrieved April 27, 2023.
15. "Jonathon Adams, 2021 Artist-in-Residence - Early Music Vancouver". May 16, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2023.