Jonathan Gold (b. 2001) is an American composer based in New York City. Originally from New Jersey, Jonathan's musical life began as a drummer and bass player. After discovering sacred choral music at the age of eighteen, he devoted himself solely to composition. He took his first lessons in music theory and counterpoint with his choir director, Austen Vallies.
He studied composition and choral conducting with Alla Cohen and Geneviève Leclaire at Berklee College of Music, where he was introduced to the music of Arvo Pärt and Morton Feldman. During this time, Jonathan began developing his own compositional language based on his study of Medieval music and the American post-war avant-garde.
He has since been exploring the interrelationship between determinacy/indeterminacy in his compositions, using strict rules and formulas to build musical structures, and working with simplified notation and practical limitations to derive natural rhythm and nuance from performers' impulses and intuition. Heavily informed by his relationship with Zen Buddhism, his recent works tend to focus on meditative awareness in their performance, resulting in extended unfoldings of circular patterns with subtle, organic inconsistencies. The performances of his music are spaces where both performer and audience can achieve closeness and deep connection to their inner/outer world.
He is currently a master's student at the Manhattan School of Music, studying composition with J. Mark Stambaugh.
Orchestras, chamber ensembles, and choirs around New England and New York have performed Jonathan’s music, including at Berklee, Atlantic Music Festival, and Manhattan School of Music, as well as concerts by Airborne Extended, Crepusculum Choir, and the Berklee and Boston Conservatory Chamber Singers. His works have received national and international recognition, including a second prize and special prizes for best free composition and best religious vocal music at the International Antonín Dvorák Composition Competition, a second prize at the MTNA Young Artist Composition Competition, a national semi-finalist at the American Prize, and an International Laureate for Most Distinguished Musician at the Ibla Grand Prize.