At only 28, Kynan Johns has quickly established an enviable reputation throughout Europe, Australia, Israel and most recently America.
Having conducted over 60 orchestras and Opera companies throughout the world with constant re-invitations he is regarded as a leading conductor of the younger generation and was recently awarded second prize in the prestigious Dimitris Mitropoulos International Conducting Competition.
Kynan was personally invited by Maestro Masur to attend his master classes at the prestigious Verbier Festival, Switzerland and most recently made his Carnegie Hall debut as one of the eight finalists in the Maazel/ Vilar conducting competition, being chosen by Maestro Maazel from over 400 applicants worldwide.
Principal Conductor of the Israel Chamber Orchestra, Ashdod, Kynan has served as Resident-Assistant Conductor for the Chinese National Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Northern Symphony and as Resident-Associate conductor to the Symphony Australia network & Opera Australia.
Kynan made his European debut in 2000 conducting Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony with the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra in the famous Concertgebouw, Amsterdam and is now a regular guest-conductor in that country.
He made his professional debut in 1997 with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (Australia) and has since conducted all of Australia’s state symphony Orchestras and is a regular guest conductor throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Equally at home in the theatre Kynan made his Operatic debut in 1999 with Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia for Opera Australia. This was followed in 2000 with Tales of Hoffman and Madame Butterfly (Australia) and Peter Grimes for the New Israeli Opera. He also appeared at the Sydney International Festival conducting Walton’s Façade with Lady Susana Walton as speaker.
Completing a BMus (composition) at the Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide and an MM at the Sydney Conservatorium (conducting), Kynan has studied with Maestri Kurt Masur, Eri Klas, Peter Eotvos, Ton Koopman, David Porcelijn and Noam Sheriff.
He has been a recipient of numerous awards including the inaugural Australian Centenerary Medal (2003), Queens Trust (2000), Nelly Apt Bequest (1996), ‘Emerging Artist of the Year’ (SA govt 2000) and Young Australian of the Year (1999).
Recent highlights have included Beethoven's Fifth Symphony with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Shostakovich's Sixth Symphony with the Limburg Symphony Orchestra, Holland, Sibelius 2nd Symphony with the Orchestra of St. Lukes (USA), Elgar’s Enigma Variations with the Sydney Symphony, Schumann’s Second Symphony with the Limburg Symphony, Holland and Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Israel.
Upcoming engagements include concerts with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Die FledermausSchubert's Great Symphony with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and concerts with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra.
Recently Kynan has taken up a prestigious position as Director of Orchestral Activities at Rutgers University, New Jersey and in 2005 has been asked by Maestro Lorin Maazel to be his assistant on his Covent Garden production of his own Opera based on George Orwell's "1984".
Kynan Johns is represented in Europe by Klinkhamer Arts Management (Holland) and in Australasia by Fanfare Artist Management.