Countertenor Jonathan De Ceuster was born in Kortrijk (Belgium) in 1981 and started vocal studies at the age of 10 with baritone Pascal Devreese. Jonathan studied concert-and opera singing with Marcel Vanaud, Pascal Devreese, Annie Frantz and Celine Scheen at the Conservatoire of Music in Brussels from 2000 to 2002.
He has been a soloist of the Flemish Youth Opera from 1994 to 1996. Operatic roles include: 'Spirit' in 'Dido & Aeneas' (Purcell), 'Cupid' in 'Venus & Adonis' (Blow) and 'La Musica' in 'Orfeo' (Monteverdi), Chorus in 'Acteon' (Charpentier) and in 'The Tempest' (Purcell) in productions of Mallemuze and Theater Transparant. In 2001, Jonathan was cast as Oberon in Britten's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' during a training project of the opera studio of La Monnaie in Brussels. Jonathan is also a member of the World Youth Choir, with whom he toured in Venezuela, Belgium, France, Italy, USA, Israel, South-Korea and Japan.
In 2002, he started specializing in baroque singing at the 'Conservatoire National de Region in Metz, France with Monique Zannetti and Andrea Buchel. He obtained a degree in Opera Singing in 2001, a degree in Concert Singing and Chamber Music in 2002 and a Higher Diploma in opera singing in 2003 at the Conservatoire of Brussels. Jonathan De Ceuster has been accepted at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, London where he studied from 2002 to 2004 with David Lowe. He obtained a Postgraduate Diploma with distinction and was awarded a DipRam from the Royal Academy of Music for his outstanding final recital. In London he had the chance to work with James Bowman, Laurence Cummings, Paul Esswood, Russel Smythe, ... Jonathan also obtained a Masters Degree in 2005 and a Teaching Degree in 2006 at the Royal Flemish Conservatoire.
He performs with several renaissance and baroque ensembles i.e. The Netherlands Bach Society, La Petite Bande, Akademia, Ex Tempore, Currende, Collegium Vocale Gent,...
Jonathan played the role of 'Fileno' in the opera studio production 'La Giostra d'amore' in La Monnaie directed by Philippe Pierlot and made his debut in the Vlaamse Opera as 'Niemand' in Achilleus (Wim Henderickx) in March 2003. He has been nominated 'most promising singer of the year' in 2003 by the international opera magazine 'Opernwelt' for his part in 'Achilleus'.
Jonathan did an extensive tour with 'Drift' (Theater Transparant) in 2004 where he played the role of 'Amor'.
In 2005, Jonathan sung the role of 'Prince Edward' in the world premiere of 'Richard III' by Giovanni Battistelli for the 'Vlaamse Opera'and the European premiere of 'Men in Tribulation' (Theater Transparant, Blindman).
In 2006 he performed the European premiere of 'Jacob Lenz' (Theater Transparant, de Singel) and '2nd Witch' in 'Dido and Aeneas'(H. Purcell) for the Festival of Flanders' directed by Richard Egarr.
In 2007, he sung the role of 'Guido' in the world premiere of 'Intra Muros' (Theater Transparant, Blindman) and the role of 'Prince Edward' in Richard III (G. Battistelli) for the Deutsche Oper am Rhein (Dusseldorf, Germany).
In 2008 Jonathan sung an Agricola concert with Fretwork, the role of Ruggiero in the production 'Villa Vivaldi' for the Opera of Flanders and Theater Transparant.
In 2009 he sung the revival of Richard III for the Opéra National du Rhin (Strassbourg-France), Les Leçons de Ténèbres with Gérard Lèsnes, 26 Elegies (Birtwistle) in the 'Festival delle Crete Senesi' (dir. Philippe Herreweghe), King Arthur with Barokopera Amsterdam, the dance performance 'Ashes' with Les Ballets C de la B etc...
2010 was filled with oratorium where Bach and Graupner were the main focus. In 2011 Jonathan participated in the famous production 'Bloed & rozen' (Tom Lannoye - Guy Cassiers - Dominique Pauwels) with Collegium Vocale Gent. The next year (2012) he made his debut in Grand Théâtre de Genève as Prince Edward 'Richard III' by Giovanni Battistelli.
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