Bio
Hailed as “a virtuosic talent in the guitar world” (X-Press Magazine), American-born Australian classical guitarist
Dr Jonathan Fitzgerald has garnered international recognition as a multi-award winning performer and educator.
Maintaining a career at the intersection of performance, teaching, and artistic research,
Jonathan heads the guitar program at the University of Western Australia's
Conservatorium of Music, where he oversees one of the most active guitar studios in the country.
Jonathan has performed and presented internationally across the United States, Europe, and Australia, with appearances at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (Portugal), the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz University of Music (Poland), Tura New Music (Australia), and many others. Jonathan has also performed with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, recorded with the Perth Symphony Orchestra, and appeared on major radio networks including ABC Classic, ABC Radio National, and WXXI (New York). His playing has been recognised through numerous awards, including the Great Lakes International Guitar Competition, in which he was a prize-winning finalist and recipient of the Audience Choice Award.
Jonathan's artistic interests are diverse, ranging from traditional classical guitar repertoire to experimental works for electric guitar. His most recent project, Ascendent Messages, was a major commissioning initiative aimed at expanding the repertoire for classical guitar and percussion. The project premiered at the 2025 Fringe World Festival to critical acclaim, earning a 5-star review from FringeFeed which praised the concert as an “unforgettable experience” delivered by “virtuosos in their craft”. The works are currently being recorded for commercial release in 2026.
Previous projects include West Australian Landscapes, a CD of newly commissioned works inspired by the WA landscape which was selected as a Feature Album on ABC Classic and praised by presenter Ed Le Brocq as “absolutely gorgeous… beautiful music, superbly played.” The works were premiered with the Perth Guitar Quartet at the Perth International Classical Guitar Festival on a concert described by RTRFM as “a stunning performance …[that] will no doubt put Perth on the radars of concert goers from all over the globe.” Continuing his exploration of new music, Jonathan undertook Electroluminescence, a commissioning project culminating in an immersive multimedia concert of new works for electric guitar, electronics, and visual projections. Presented by Tura New Music at the 2022 Fringe World Festival, the concert was hailed by X-Press Magazine as “nothing less than heroic in proportion… and an important contribution to the repertoire of audio-visual works for electric guitar.” The works were subsequently recorded for CD release on New Focus Recordings (NYC), with worldwide distribution by Naxos of America. And as artist-in-residence with the National Trust of Western Australia, Jonathan developed Sound from the Ground, supported by a grant from the Department of Culture and the Arts. The project culminated in two sold-out concerts at the historic East Perth Cemeteries, won the Museums and Galleries National Award for Interpretation, Learning & Audience Engagement, and was a finalist for the 2017 WA State Heritage Award.
In addition to being an accomplished performer, Jonathan is a dedicated educator with over two decades of teaching experience. He has been recognised for his contributions to teaching with numerous awards, including the Jack L. Frank Award for Excellence in Teaching, FABLE Award for Excellence in Teaching, UWA Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, UWA Award for Excellence and Innovation in Learning and Teaching, and three-time recipient of the UWA Student Guild Students' Choice Award. Previous teaching appointments include the Eastman Community Music School, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Roberts Wesleyan University, and a teaching assistantship at the Eastman School of Music.
Jonathan received his formal training in the United States, studying with Grammy-winning classical guitarist Jason Vieaux at the Cleveland Institute of Music (B.Mus and M.Mus). During his doctoral studies at the Eastman School of Music, Jonathan studied classical guitar with Dr Nicholas Goluses, historical performance practice with world renowned lutenist Paul O’Dette, and music theory pedagogy with Dr Steven Laitz. Jonathan considers it an honour and a responsibility to carry on, with his own students, the legacy of the teachers who have so profoundly shaped him as a musician.
Jonathan performs on guitars by Jim Redgate and Gernot Wagner.